Author: Chima Onyido

In preparation for his upcoming attendance at the G-20 summit in India, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a crucial meeting with the country’s service chiefs on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, attended by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, focused on ongoing operations and preparations for the G-20 summit in India. It marked the second regular routine national security council gathering. READ ALSO: Work minister says contractors…

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said all contractors handling road construction projects for the federal government must henceforth sign indemnity agreements spanning 30 years for road contracts. GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that a 30-year indemnity agreement would mean a legal contract in which road contractors agree to compensate or provide financial protection to federal government in case the road constructed fails to maintain agreed standard with that year. Umahi, who made the announcement was made during a media address at the Ministry of Works’ Mabushi Headquarters, said roads constructed with Concrete can last for 50 years while those…

Dr Legend Asuelime, Director-General of EDO-APC Diaspora Council, has described Saturday’s Local Government Election in Edo as a sham. Asuelime said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, that the election fell short of all indices of a free and fair poll. He added that the conduct of the election showed that Gov. Godwin Obaseki and the election commission had no regard for the rule of law and democracy, as well as the people. “We the leaders of EDO-APC Diaspora Council, hereby join our party leaders in the state to reject…

The military junta in Niger has reopened the West African country’s airspace again more than one month after seizing power in a coup. Niger’s airspace is accessible for both civil and commercial aircraft with immediate effect, the military said on Monday. The junta had closed the country’s airspace a few days after ousting the democratically elected president in a putsch on July 26, among other things ,to prevent the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from intervening. ECOWAS has threatened the use of force to restore constitutional order if Niger’s ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, now under house arrest, is…

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line System has officially launched its commercial operations, as the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday embarked on the inaugural commercial ride in a moment that sparked excitement. Accompanied by Deputy Governor, Mr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, and other key figures such as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, and more, Governor Sanwo-Olu initiated the journey at 9:07 am from the first coach. He then traversed to the seventh coach, taking on the role of ride manager as he guided passengers on the boarding requirements. Notable…

The eagerly awaited verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPT) is slated to be delivered on Wednesday, September 6th, as confirmed by Umar Bangari, the Court of Appeal Registrar and reported by Channels TV. The Registrar assured that the proceedings would be accessible to the public through live broadcasts on interested television stations. Recall that the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), along with their respective presidential candidates, had presented petitions to the tribunal, aiming to invalidate President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election Judgments are also expected from…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it would continue to advocate inclusion of retirees, both in the private and public sectors, in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Its Assistant General Secretary, Mr Chris Onyeka, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. Onyeka, who noted that the new health insurance bill signed into law on May 19, 2022 sought for a universal health insurance coverage, saying “it therefore, meant everybody was covered including retirees.” According to him, if such act is in place and operational, then the issue of health…

A Civil Society Organisation, Budget Implementation, Assessment, Evaluation and Monitoring Committee has faulted the House of Representatives over claimed that the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) spent N81.2 billion to plant 21millin trees. Mr Ogakwu Dominic, Coordinator of the CSO dismissed the claims while briefing newsmen in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ad hoc Committee probing the utilisation of ecological funds released to NAGGW had uncovered N81.2 billion allegedly spent to plant 21m trees in 11 states. Domini said the claim by the committee was lacking in merit, adding that part of…

African Israeli Stage in partnership with the National Arts Theatre on Sunday in Lagos presented Wole Soyinka’s play titled “The Road”. Originally published in 1965, ‘The Road’ by Wole Soyinka is a play about a day in the strange life of a group of drivers on a Nigerian road. The eight-man theatre group according to the Founder and Director, Yaffa Schuster, portrays plays focusing on contemporary and classical creations of African playwrights and authors. “African Israeli Stage also focuses on plays portraying the experience of black immigrants, migrant workers and refugees in Israel. “Theatre productions reflect our reality and our…

Grammy award-winning artist Burna Boy has secured notable awards, including the Best Afrobeats Single of the Year for the song ‘Last Last,’ at the 16th edition of the Headies awards. The prestigious event took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Centre in Atlanta, USA. The night celebrated African excellence under the theme ‘Celebrating African Renaissance’ and saw other notable artists like Asake, who clinched the highly-coveted ‘Next Rated’ award and the ‘Album of the Year’ category for ‘Mr. Money With The Vibe,’ as well as Rema, receiving recognition. READ ALSO: Lagos gov to cover medical bills for boy with missing…

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, says no fewer than 8.3 million Nigerians are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. Edu said the figure is part of the total 16 million Nigerians affected by various humanitarian crises, with the three states worse hit. The minister said this in a statement by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr Rasheed Zubair, on Sunday in Abuja. She said aside from the North-East, Benue in the North/Central had been tagged the capital of humanitarian crises in Nigeria by United Nations. “We have…

The United Kingdom issued some 132,000 visas to Nigerians in the first half of the year, Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos has said. He revealed the number in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday. Baxter, however, could not readily give the total number of applications received from Nigerians during the period. “In the first half of the year, we granted approximately 132,000 visas, and those are all sorts of visas which include visit, work and study visas. “In the previous full year before that, we issued about 324,000. The UK,…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has issued a ultimatum to all illegal miners operating in Nigeria, giving them 30 days to join established mining cooperatives or face legal consequences. This announcement came during a world press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, where the minister unveiled plans to establish a surveillance task force aimed at securing the nation’s mines. While announcing that the 30-day ultimatum to miners and plan to introduce security operatives were parts of his seven transformation agenda, Alake expressed his concern over the illegal extraction of precious mineral resources such as gold, bitumen, lithium,…

Former Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, have called on the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 43 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, to promote democratic ideals. They made the call at the maiden reunion of the Alumni Association of SEC 43, 2021, in Abuja on Saturday. The reunion was tagged: h“Getting Things Done: Embracing Memories, Forging Futures, Reuniting Heats and Forever Entwined with SEC43, 2021.” Babangida, in a goodwill message, read by a member of the course, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),…

Dr Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, says plans are underway to rejig the N-Power scheme to accommodate more people and ensure prompt payment of beneficiaries’ stipends. Edu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by her Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Rasheed Zubair, in Abuja. The statement reported the Minister as saying that the challenges faced by N-Power beneficiaries in terms of delay in payment of their stipends would soon be addressed. “We will change the modalities so that people will get their delayed stipends, include more people, and relaunch it with a renewed hope…

Professor Linus Asuquo, Director General (D-G), National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) Jos, has said he followed due process in award and execution of contracts in the centre. Asuquo was reacting to a petition signed by 54 members of staff of NMDC, accusing him of fraudulent activities at the centre, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday, in Jos. The members of staff, under the aegis of Concerned Staff of NMDC, accused the director general of embezzlement, misappropriation, diversion of public funds, gross violation of public service rules and shady reappointment. In his reaction however, Asuquo…

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has revealed that oil production in Nigeria has significantly increased to 1.6 million barrels per day. This surge marks a substantial rise from the previous production level, which was less than one million barrels per day just a few months ago. Kyari shared this information during a media briefing organized by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, in Abuja. READ ALSO: Coup: Protesters demand French troop withdrawal from Niger Additionally, Kyari highlighted a notable decrease in petrol consumption,…

Nigerian actor Yul Edochie, known for his roles in Nollywood, has shared his perspective on marriage, emphasizing that it should not be considered a do-or-die affair. Yul Edochie has faced public discussions and criticism over his decision to take on a second wife in recent months. Several months ago, Yul, the son of the legendary actor Pete Edochie, announced that he had entered into a new marriage with Judy Austin, a fellow colleague in the Nollywood industry. He shared the news on his verified Instagram account, including a picture of himself with a child born to his new wife. Prior…

A massive erosion on the Oba axis of Onitsha-Owerri expressway is threatening property running into billions of naira. The erosion which had already cut the Owerri bound carriageway of the Federal Highway and is threatening the second lane, had approached a filling station and a nearby hotel. Already, the Anambra government has barricaded the affected part of the road thereby transferring all the burden to the second lane which is on the verge of collapse. The popular Rojenny Stadium and Games village, with about 30,000 sitting capacity football pitch, is also at the risk of collapse if urgent measures are…

Erling Haaland netted a second-half hat-trick as pacesetters Manchester City maintained their 100 per cent record in the Premier League with a 5-1 thrashing of Fulham on Saturday. Julian Alvarez and Nathan Ake opened the scoring for the champions, who have beaten Fulham in their last 15 league meetings and now top the table with 12 points from four games. Fulham, who scored an early equaliser through Tim Ream before being overrun, have four points from their four games. Haaland, who broke several scoring records last season, added another on Saturday, becoming the fastest player to reach 50 goal involvements,…