Author: Chima Onyido

Godswill Akpabio, Senate President has constituted the standing committees of the upper legislative chamber. A list of the committee and the chairpersons were released after the Senate’s confirmation of the appointments of President Bola Tinubu’s ministers, suspending those of three others, including former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. READ ALSO: AU, UN, ECOWAS Delegation Head to Niger for Talks – Reports Among those who made the lists of committee chair are Aminu Tambuwal, housing; Ahmad Lawan, Defence, Umar Shehu, National Security and Intelligence; Euhari Abdulfatai, Aviation; and Abiru Tokunbo, Banking. Below is the list: SENATE COMMITTEE ON AIR FORCE AKWASHIKI GODIYA SENATE…

A delegation consisting of the representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations will on Tuesday travel to Niger to meet with coup leaders. French broadcaster RFI reported that the delegation is set to arrive in the Nigerien capital city of Niamey “in the coming hours” to hold talks with the rebels on behalf of the international community. The move was in a bid to restore the country’s disbanded institutions, the broadcaster reported. READ ALSO: Insecurity: Kaduna Villager Who Lost 3 Children Kills Bandit Leader According to the broadcaster, the Nigerian…

The Federal Government says it has withdrawn the contempt of court proceedings against organised labour for embarking on a nationwide protest. This is contained in a letter addressed to the lead counsel to the National Labour Congress (NLC), Falana and Falana’s Chambers and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. The letter dated August 7 to Falana’s Chambers was signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Mrs B.E. Jeddy-Agba. GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that the Federal Ministry of Justice had through the National Industrial Court (NICN) issued the leadership of organised labour summons on…

After an intense eight-day screening process, the Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed the appointments of 45 out of 48 ministerial nominees presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement, revealing that the remaining three nominees – Nasir Elrufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Sani Danladi (Taraba), and Stella Okotete (Delta) – are awaiting security clearance. READ ALSO: Senate Ends Ministerial Screening with ‘Take a Bow’ as Keyamo Apologies for Past Snubbing The list of the newly confirmed ministers includes: Akwa Ibom: Ekperikpe Ekpo Bayelsa: Heineken Lolokpobri Cross River: Betta Edu Cross River: John Enoh Edo: Abubakar Momoh Rivers:…

Festus Keyamo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), extended an apology to the Senate on Monday evening for his prior failure to attend invitations from the legislative committee overseeing the Ministry of Labour and Productivity. Keyamo, who formerly served as a minister under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, expressed remorse during the Senate’s ministerial screening. The apology followed a tumultuous session earlier in the day when Senator Darlington Nwokocha (Abia Central) accused Keyamo of disrespecting the Ninth National Assembly and casting aspersions on the previous Assembly’s integrity. In a composed manner, Keyamo tendered his apology, shedding light on the context of the…

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says its urban mass transit buses would resume operations to cushion the effect of hike in transport fare, occasioned by fuel subsidy removal. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), transport fare has skyrocketed by more than 100 per cent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), since the new fuel price regime took off. During his inaugural speech on May 29, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had announced the removal of fuel subsidy, leading to the increased price of petrol from N195 to N540 per litre. Barely two months after, the price was further…

Deliberations concerning an enhanced minimum wage are underway between the Federal Government and various states, marking a pivotal step in shaping future compensation for workers. The discussions’ outcomes will provide vital guidance to the Minimum Wage Review Committee in formulating an updated wage structure for employees. However, the government has made it clear that it is not supportive of an across-the-board 100% wage increase. Clarifying the context, Ajuri Ngelale, the spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as report by The Nation, emphasized that the reference pertains solely to an enhancement of the minimum wage, not an across-the-board doubling of all…

The Federal Ministry of Health has identified 171 local government areas (LGAs) across 14 states at elevated risk for the potential further spread of the ongoing diphtheria outbreak. Olufunsho Adebiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, disclosed that among these LGAs, 144 are situated in states including Kano, Katsina, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Yobe, Kaduna, and Bauchi. The remaining 27 LGAs consist of 20 contiguous ones in Gombe, Jigawa, Borno, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Zamfara states, as well as seven in Lagos and Osun states. Adebiyi emphasized that real-time surveillance data has revealed active diphtheria outbreaks in 25 LGAs within…

The Lagos State Government has suspended Ms Adenike Adekanbi, the General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure and Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA), for not properly overseeing the activities of the agency. The suspendion followed the death of a medical doctor, Vwaere Diaso, due to elevator collapse at the Lagos General Hospital, Odan, on August 1. Mr Olumide Sogunle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Sunday, that the government also ordered that the facility managers be sacked and the firm blacklisted immediately. Sogunle said that these actions taken were necessitated by the findings of the panel set…

Professor Abiodun Adebayo, the Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, has highlighted the potential risks of prolonged exposure to WiFi and electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) on human health. Speaking at a recent media workshop in Lagos organized by direct selling company QNET, Adebayo revealed that such exposures can lead to DNA defragmentation in sperm cells and hinder sperm motility, negatively impacting male fertility. The event served as an introduction of QNET’s latest products to the market, including the Chi Pendant 4, an innovative wearable health technology designed with energy-transforming properties and visually appealing aesthetics. READ ALSO: Photographer Arrested in Ondo for Possession…

The Delta State Police Command has successfully arrested three suspected kidnappers recovered a ransom of N2 million and valuable jewelry worth N3.5 million, along with arms and ammunition in Obiaruku, Delta state. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, issued a statement yesterday, said one of the suspects, who identified as a self-proclaimed pastor, had housed the victims for a period of six days. According to him,”On 19/7/2023, a case of kidnapping was reported at Obiaruku Police station, the distress caller (name withheld) stated that on their way back from their shop at about 2030hours of the same date, three…

A lawsuit filed by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, requesting access to the academic records of President Bola Tinubu, has been dismissed by a United States court. The Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois, USA, ruled against Atiku’s suit, as reported by The Nation. President Tinubu has publicly stated that he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University. READ ALSO: Army to Sokoto Residents: Don’t Panic Over Troop Movements, Gunshots in Coming Days Beverly Poindexter, responsible for transcript requests and degree verification, confirmed earlier this year that Tinubu attended the university between 1977 and…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has arrested 21 persons including touts, illegal foreign exchange dealers, hawkers and scavengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Mr Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Lagos. He said that the suspects had been handed over to the Police for further action. According to him, the arrest is part of FAAN’s effort to sanitise the airport environment and rid it of touts and others engaged in illegitimate activities. “The Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF) and the Aviation Security Crime…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) have arrested a fake couple, Kingsley and Roseline Ilonzeh for ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine. The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. He said that the suspected drug traffickers were purportedly going for medical treatment in India. Babafemi said that the drugs weighed 3.322Kg, while another 100 grammes of the drug was concealed in the woman’s private part. He said that the two suspects were intercepted at the Screening Point 1, Terminal 1 of the international wing of the Lagos…

A recent study conducted by Small Firm Diaries and published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that 40% of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country are owned by women, indicating a significant milestone in gender inclusivity within Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape. Titled ‘Country Data Overview,’ the report underlines the substantial progress towards gender diversity in entrepreneurship, as women’s ownership of 40% of MSMEs marks a positive step. This statistic is particularly noteworthy when compared to global data from the World Bank, which states that firms with female representation in ownership stand at 32.9%. Nigeria’s achievement…

Maryam Shettima, the former ministerial nominee has opened up, after her removal as a ministerial nominee by President Tinubu. In a statement on Saturday, Shettima, famously known as Shetty, describe the whole incident as the will of God. she said she would not allow the incident stop her from believing in the country. GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that Shetty, who was among the 19 names supplementary list of ministerial nominee submitted by President to the senate on Wednesday. However, the Kano native would on Friday receive, possibly the shock of her life, when she heard that her name has been…

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has officially announced the closure of the border with Niger Republic in accordance with a directive from the presidency. Speaking from Abuja, Adeniyi confirmed his recent visit to the Ilela Border, which was closed following the recent overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger Republic. He reassured that the NCS is fully committed to executing the presidential directive for the border closure. READ ALSO: Bandits Kill Villager, Abduct Seven Others in Kaduna The statement noted: “Following the recent overthrow of a Democratically elected government in Niger Republic,…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially communicated to the Nigerian Senate about the proposed military action by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at the military government in Niger Republic. The letter was read on Friday by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. Recall that General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of Niger’s presidential guard, had last week declared himself head of state after the military seized power, and deposed the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The ECOWAS in its resolution gave the new military leader in Niger one week ultimatum to restore constitutional order. READ ALSO: Ministerial…

President Bola Tinubu has replaced a ministerial nominee, Maryam Shetty, choosing two others, including Festus Keyamo and Dr Mariya Mahmoud. This was revealed when Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out a letter by the President at Friday’s plenary session. Details later…

Anonymous Sudan, a pro-Nigerien hacktivist group, recently made an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt MTN Nigeria’s network as a protest against Nigeria’s stance on the coup in the Republic of Niger. According to a reliable source within the telecommunications company, the hackers made multiple unsuccessful attempts to breach MTN’s network. The hacktivist group, Anonymous Sudan, had previously claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against MTN Nigeria on Wednesday. The group’s attack was reportedly in response to Nigeria’s proposed military intervention in Niger. In a statement shared on its Telegram channel, Anonymous Sudan stated, “We claim full responsibility for this attack because of…