Author: Alade Adisa

Nigeria and France’s relationship was strengthened by President Bola Tinubu’s November trip to Paris, alarming those who see it as going against the trend of other countries in the region severing ties with their erstwhile colonial oppressor.France, whose colonialist iron hand once held sway over large parts of Africa, is learning to its cost that the continent is no longer willing to be dictated to.The European nation’s diplomatic relations with sub-Saharan Africa have hit a nadir, with countries like Senegal and Chad forcing shut French bases within their territories or severing military ties in the wake of Niger, Mali, and…

Members of the House of Representatives from the 17 states in Southern Nigeria have thrown their weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills. Rising from a meeting at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, the lawmakers however, urged the executive arm to consult further and seek input from more stakeholders. Coming under the aegis of the Southern Reps Caucus, they hinted at possible amendment to some provisions of the bills before they could be passed. While addressing a media conference, the leader of the group, Rep Nicholas Mutu (PDP, Delta), said the caucus had met earlier where their endorse…

Citing division within the party and the need to serve the people of his constituency better, a member of the House of Representatives Fom Dalyop Chollom on Tuesday defected from Labour Party, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Chollom’s resignation letter from the LP was read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas during plenary on Tuesday. In the letter, Chollom who represents the Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency cited the political crisis in Labour Party as one of the reasons for his defection. He also said he joined the APC to be able to represent his…

Marcus Rashford is fighting to save his Manchester United career after Telegraph Sport learnt the club were open to selling him last summer and remain receptive to bids being made. United are said to be concerned about Rashford’s lifestyle off the pitch and there are fears he is no longer as focused on his football as he could be. Sources have said he is dealing with a number of off-field distractions that are affecting his performances. Rashford was fined two weeks’ wages in January after he was pictured drinking heavily on a night out in Belfast and was dropped for…

Police in Kano have arrested three notorious fraudsters, recovering the sum of N129,542,823,000 billion fake currencies from them. Nura Ibrahim (26) of Sharada Quarters, Kano, Mohammed Muktar (35) of Hotoro Quarters, Kano, and Ahmad Abdullahi (30) of Kaga Local Government Area of Borno state, were arrested at different times and locations, following a tip off by a good Samaritan on the nefarious activities of the suspected criminals. The arrest of Nura on December 1, 2024, led to the arrest of Mohammed and Ahmed. Ahmed who hails from Borno state is the ring leader of the gang who have been terrorizing…

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has announced that it has disbursed N22.89 billion of the N75 billion manufacturing sector intervention fund to 29 manufacturers.Its Managing Director, Dr Olasupo Olusi, made this known on Monday at the first BOI interactive session with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Abuja, which was monitored virtually.Olusi said that out of the N75 billion manufacturing sector fund, other 20 projects valued at N6.3 billion were at different stages of disbursement.He said that the interactive session was a collaborative milestone, a reflection of shared vision to create a thriving industrial sector.According to him, it is also…

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Babatunde Ogala has dismissed allegations that legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola is being used to target activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi for his anti-Tinubu stance during the 2023 general elections.Speaking on the matter during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Ogala described the claims as “ridiculous and insulting” to the 95-year-old Babalola, a revered figure in Nigeria’s legal and educational circles.Afe Babalola, at 95, being used by whom; to achieve what? I think it’s ridiculous for those who say such. That is most ridiculous and insulting on Chief Afe Babalola, a revered icon, a…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting at Maitama, on Tuesday, denied bail to Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State. The former governor has been in detention since November 25. In a ruling delivered by Justice Maryann Anenih, the court described as premature and incompetent, the application the former governor filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the charge against him. The court noted that Bello filed the bail application even before he surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.) Justice Anenih, who stressed that a bail application is filed…

Henceforth, any airline that delays tickets refund to passengers will face severe sanctions, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned. NCAA conveyed this warning in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu in Abuja on Tuesday. Achimugu said tickets refund compliance regulations remains central to the NCAA’s consumer protection agenda. He said the time had come for airlines adhere strictly to the refund timelines as failure to comply will attract immediate sanctions under Part 19 of the regulations.The director said the Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023 aimed to safeguard passenger…

1,500 defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Young Progressive Party (YPP) have been received into the All Progressives Congress (APC) by a member of the House of Representatives, Aminu Jaji, (APC-Zamfara). Jaji, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Ecological Fund, represents Birnin Magaji/Kaura Namoda Federal Constituency. A statement issued in Gusau on Monday by the lawmaker’s Media Assistant, Jamilu Iliyasu said the defectors included the leaders and supporters of PDP, APGA, YPP and other political parties in the state. Jaji, represented by the State Chairman, APC Jajiyyaa Group, Alhaji Isiyaka…