Author: Alade Adisa

The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, passed for a second reading four contentious tax reform bills submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The development followed a lead debate led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and contributions from senators during plenary. The proposed bills, which aim to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework, have sparked significant backlash. Prominent northern stakeholders, including governors, traditional rulers, and the Northern Elders Forum, have voiced strong objections, arguing that the reforms are not in the nation’s best interest. Despite the opposition, some top officials from Tinubu’s administration made comprehensive presentations to the Senate on Wednesday…

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.) has shed light on the rationale behind the creation of states during his tenure, emphasizing that the move was intended to ease regional tensions and address fears of northern domination. Gowon, who served as Nigeria’s leader from 1966 to 1975 made this known during a visit by the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led League of Northern Democrats (LND) at the Yakubu Gowon Centre in Abuja. He highlighted the importance of unity and urged Northern elites to build consensus around issues that promote national interest and cohesion. According to him, “May I thank you sincerely,…

Shell has launched arbitration hearings over the supply of liquefied natural gas from Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass facility. According to a Reuters report, Shell CEO Wael Sawan confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday. The report further said Shell and other companies including BP, Galp and Repsol have also launched contract arbitration cases in the United States over inability to obtain contract cargoes for more than two years. Sawan said, “Frustratingly, we have got no volumes against our term agreement which underpinned the financing for the project. We’re going through arbitration hearings this quarter.” Shell and others say they…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will this morning (Thursday), arraign the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The ex-governor will be docked before trial Justice Emeka Nwite, on a 19-count charge that borders on alleged N80.2 billion fraud. It will be recalled that Justice Nwite had on April 17, issued a warrant for the arrest of the former governor following his repeated failure to appear before the court for his arraignment. Effort by operatives of the EFCC to execute the arrest order at Bello’s residence in Abuja was…

THE Public Complaints Commission (PCC) and stakeholders have called for promotion of technical education to reframe public perception of Higher National Degree (HND) and bachelor’s degree disparity in civil service across the country.Mr Kehinde Oni, PCC Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State, who made the call during a town hall/public hearing organised by the commission on Thursday in Akure, also called for upgrade of polytechnic.The programme had the theme “Town Hall/Public Hearing On Systemic And Proactive Investigation Into Disparity In Placement Of HND And BSC Holders In Civil Service.”Oni said that the upgrade and promotion of polytechnics was to close the…

Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said that some people want him to die. The former president spoke during the commissioning of Old-Garage-Oke-Fia-Lameco Road by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke. Obasanjo, who dispelled the death speculation, wondered why anyone would want him dead, saying that anyone who thinks ill of him would not escape tragedy. Obasanjo, however, commended Adeleke for his extraordinary performance in Osun State, saying his second term is sure. He urged the governor to continue to prioritise the welfare of the people. Meanwhile, residents of Ido-Osun community have expressed dissatisfaction with the state government’s decision to…

VFS Global has announced the opening of Africa’s biggest UK visa application centre (VAC) in Lagos. The centre commenced operations on November 19 according to a statement.VFS said Nigerians travelling to the UK can now book appointments to submit their visa applications through VACs located in Abuja and Lagos (Ikeja and Victoria Island).Marc Owen, director of visa, status and information services at UKVI, said “the opening of our new VAC in Ikeja marks an exciting milestone for UKVI and VFS Global in the provision of a world-class UK visa service here in Nigeria across Africa”.“In the year to June 2024,…

International buyers of Ghana’s cocoa have made at least half a billion dollars of upfront payments to state marketing board Cocobod, according to Reuters’ calculations, in a dash to secure supplies and avoid another season of heavy losses.An abrupt overhaul of the three-decade-old marketing system in the world’s No.2 cocoa grower has thrust traders and processors into a vastly expanded role in financing and bringing in the crop.Previously, Cocobod would take on bank loans to buy farmers’ cocoa, then sell the contracts for the crop forward to international companies.But after being financially hobbled by declining production and management decisions, the…

As residents of southern Lebanon begin returning to neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, new data shared with Sky News illustrates the impact of the conflict.The Centre for Information Resilience has verified more than 400 videos showing 300 separate incidents of harm to civilians and damage to infrastructure in Lebanon.It offers a window into the extent of the destruction since fighting began in October last year.For nearly a year, attacks were concentrated in southern Lebanon, along the border with Israel.In September, Israel stepped up its offensive. The red dots represent incidents from September to now.The country’s capital, Beirut, has been attacked regularly…

An Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Bala Dakum, on Thursday, narrated how his 85-year-old father, Deh Idi Dakum, was kidnapped and later murdered after ransom was paid.Dakum, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, said he is yet to recover from the shock, days after the remains of his late father was found and buried.He said the octogenarian was kidnapped on Nov. 18 at about 7pm in their village, Matelem, in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau, and his dead body was discovered on Saturday.“I am a Principal Partner in B. I. Dakum & Co which is based in Abuja.“My Dad, Deh Idi…