Author: Good Evening Nigeria

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has directed all workers in the six area councils of the FCT to begin indefinite strike from Dec. 1. The chairman of the council, Mr Knabanyi Adalo, gave the directive in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. Idalo explained that this was in adherence to communique by a the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Nov. 8, in Port Harcourt, Rivers. He said that the NEC in the communique, appealed to the councils’ chairmen to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage. He, however, said that the chairmen…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to impose fines on erring players in the financial sector over the ongoing cash scarcity at Automated Teller Machines. CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, on Friday announced this at the annual Bankers’ Dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. There have been recent reports of cash shortages at banks, both at ATMs and over the counter. Cardoso stated, “We also recognise the ongoing challenges with cash availability at ATMs, which disproportionately affect ordinary Nigerians. “To address this, we are conducting spot checks across deposit money banks, and we will…

The seventh prosecution witness, Mr John Adetola, in the ongoing trial of ex-governor of Central Bank of Nigeria , CBN Godwin Emefiele, narrated how he collected the sum of $400,000 on behalf of the ex-governor. Adetola, who was the former personal assistant to Emefiele, made the revelation on Thursday while giving evidence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court. Emefiele is standing trial for alleged abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud, while in office. He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile. Omoile, on his part, is…

The Senate on Thursday passed the four tax bills for second reading through voice votes. President Tinubu Bola transmitted the four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration on October 3. The move generated controversy with the Northern governors kicking against the tax reforms. Worried by the situation, the Presidency explained that the bills were not targeted at any particular region but to develop the country. The Senate passed through second reading a Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombud as part of…

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) says the Port Harcourt Refinery Company Limited has not released any new purchase price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, National President, PETROAN made this known in a statement on Wednesday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the refinery, operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) on Tuesday began the first truck-out of petroleum products in view of the re-streaming of the rehabilitated facility. The re-streaming and truck loading signalled the commencement of crude oil processing from the plant and the delivery…

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that it spent over ₦8.8 billion in the past 11 months to repair transmission towers destroyed by vandals and bandits across the country. Sule Abdulaziz, TCN’s Chief Executive Officer, made this revelation during the quarterly power sector working group meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday. Represented by Olugbenga Ajiboye, the Executive Director of Transmission Service Provider (TSO) at TCN, Abdulaziz highlighted the alarming scale of destruction. He stated that between January 13 and the present date, a total of 128 transmission towers have been damaged nationwide. These attacks have significantly disrupted…

A late-evening fire broke out on Wednesday at Radio Nigeria’s office, located at Plot No. 35, Ikoyi Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Although the cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of filing this report, however, firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside other emergency responders, are actively managing the situation. A statement by Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said the agency was alerted at approximately 5:30 PM. Firefighters from the Dolphin, Ebute Elefun, and Oba Onitolo Fire Stations arrived promptly to combat the flames, which had engulfed the studio…

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed December 10, for ruling on the bail application filed by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. There are reports that Bello, alongside two others, Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crones Commission over allegations of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to commit an offence totalling N110.4 billion. The presiding Judge, -Justice Maryann Anenih slated the date after prosecution and defence counsel had argued their bail application. The former Governor was arraigned on fresh 16-count charges brought against…

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja witnessed a heavy security presence this morning as the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, prepared to face arraignment. The premises of the court were tightly guarded by heavily armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ensuring maximum security. Roads leading to the court were also heavily secured, reflecting the high-profile nature of the case. Yahaya Bello, dressed in a white Babanriga and exuding confidence with a bright smile, arrived at the courtroom to chants of “Saaki” from his numerous supporters and political aides. The…

The Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) on Tuesday began the first tuck-out of petroleum products in view of the re-streaming of the rehabilitated facility. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the re-streaming and truck loading signalled the commencement of crude oil processing from the plant and delivery of petroleum products to the market. The upgraded old refinery which had an installed production capacity of 60, 000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil was currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent. The refinery is…

The Senate has the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) over its highly lopsided Private Public Partnership arrangements on passport production, which gave consultancy firm 70% of the proceeds and the federal government 30%. The Chairman of Senate Finance Committee, Senator Sani Musa, fumed over the arrangement on Monday, during an interactive session with the National Assembly’s joint Committees on Finance, Budget and National Planning on 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work and Fiscal Strategy Paper. There are reports that Senator Musa ordered Immigration to present all the documents on the unacceptable Public Private Partners arrangement to the committee before the…

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has described the drop in Nigeria’s unemployment rate released in a report by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday as fiction, stressing that it contradicts reality. The NLC’s position was corroborated by the Organised Private Sector, with the OPS stating that the report was not reflective of economic realities. The NBS in its latest report stated that Nigeria’s unemployment rate declined to 4.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, signalling improved labour market conditions. According to the report, this marks a decrease from the 5.3 per cent recorded in Q1 2024…

A drug syndicate operated by a Chinese man, 58-year-old Tianzhen Yen (alias Jackie) has been dismantled by NDLEA operatives following his arrest at his hotel in Ikeja area of Lagos. Officers of the Seme Special Area Command of the Agency had on Thursday 21st November intercepted a 40-year-old suspect, Yakubu Emmanuel Mark in a commercial bus going to Ghana at the Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme expressway based on credible intelligence. When he was searched, a total of 750 grams of cocaine were found in his bag. A statement issued by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA, Director, Media & Advocacy, on Sunday,…

The oldest Catholic priest in Nigeria, Monsignor Thomas Oleghe, is dead. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia announced Oleghe’s death at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Auchi, during the solemnity of Christ the King on Sunday. Monsignor Oleghe , who is a diocesan priest of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Edo State, died at the age of 103. More details to follow…

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of Suleiman Aledeh as the substantive Managing Director of the State-owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS). The appointment takes immediate effect. This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo Governor, Fred Itua, on Saturday. “Aledeh is an international journalist, editor-at-large, strategic media, and communication consultant. He has over two decades of experience in broadcast journalism across both radio and television. He has made significant contributions to prestigious international news channels, including Al Jazeera, SABC, and GB News UK. Currently, he anchors various news programs…

Alhaji Jafaru Makarfi, a respected Islamic leader and retired public servant, is dead. Jafaru died in Kaduna at the age of 93. Alhaji Suleman Abdulkadir, who announced the death on behalf of the family on Saturday in Kaduna, said he passed away on Saturday night. Abdulkadir, who is also the Garkuwan Zazzau, said Makarfi was the Chairman of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna State. He was a prominent figure in the Nigerian Muslim community and had served as a Commissioner in the defunct Kaduna State. The deceased worked with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), from 1950, and…

The Senate on Thursday approved President Bola Tinubu’s loan request of $2.2 billion to partially finance the ₦9.7 trillion budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year. The approval followed the presentation of a report by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Aliyu Wamakko, during plenary. Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended the committee for its swift action and thorough examination of the loan request. In a letter read during the Senate and House of Representatives plenaries on Tuesday, Tinubu had explained that the loan was integral to his administration’s fiscal strategy for…

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, has been arrested in Finland alongside four other individuals for alleged terror-related activities. According to a local report, Ekpa was remanded by the district court of Päijät-Häme on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. His activities have been a subject of controversy, particularly for his role in advocating for Biafra’s secession from Nigeria. In a statement released on Thursday, the Central Criminal Police in Finland confirmed the arrests, stating that the five individuals are being investigated for crimes…

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has granted the request of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arraign a former lawmaker for Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Andy Uba, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged N400 million fraud. Justice Ekwo fixed February 18, 2025, to take the plea of the defendant following an allegation that he defrauded one George Uboh, whose petition to the police led to the charge. Equally cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit which was filed before the court are Crystal Chidinma Uba and Benjamin Etu. The…

The Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area in Enugu State, Dr. Eric Odo, has dismissed negative online reports criticizing his recent appointment of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) on Agriculture. Speaking to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, Odo described the appointments as a strategic initiative aimed at boosting food production and driving agricultural development in the region. Odo explained that the SSAs were assigned specific roles focused on key crops like garden egg, yam, and pepper. These crops, he noted, are not only staples but also hold significant economic potential for local consumption and export. “Igbo-Etiti LGA has a great…