Author: Alade Adisa

Following allegations of lopsided recruitment process in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the House of Representatives has resolved to probe the agencies. The resolution was passed during plenary on Thursday, following the adoption of a motion by Ali Isa, the minority whip. Moving the motion, Isa said there are allegations that staff recruitment processes in the agencies are “marred by irregularities of favouritism” and non-compliance with the federal character principle. He said the allegations also include extra-budgetary expenditures with funds earmarked for statutory operations being used for non-statutory items…

All eight passengers inside the helicopter crash that occurred in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Thursday, may have died, the Rivers State Police Command, has said. In earlier reports, three persons have been confirmed dead. The state Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko disclosed this in a statement, noting that all the passengers may have lost their lives in the tragic incident after a day of search. This comes after President Bola Tinubu ordered an intensified search, and directed the military to join search for the passengers involved in the crash. The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police…

The humanitarian crisis in the northern Gaza Strip deepened on Saturday as an Israeli bombardment killed at least 20 people, trapped thousands more and prompted one of the area’s last functioning hospitals to issue desperate pleas for assistance. Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Saturday hit the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza, even as the Israeli military is pressing ahead with its campaign in Lebanon, where it warned residents of 23 more towns to evacuate on Saturday. The Israeli military also reported that about 320 projectiles were fired into Israel on Saturday by the militant group Hezbollah, the focus of its…

The Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, has charged the Nigerian Army to get rid of the notorious bandits’ leader, Bello Turji, without further delay. The minister gave the order in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, on Thursday while addressing troops of Operation Fansar Yamma at the One Brigade Headquarters. Abubakar, who was in the state to receive briefings on the ongoing military operations, stated that President Bola Tinubu was pleased with the progress made by the troops in combating banditry over the past few months. He said, “President Bola Tinubu has recognised some level of improvement in the operation against…

A helicopter carrying eight passengers crashed in Rivers State on Thursday, leaving three people dead while the search for the remaining passenger is ongoing. The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development said eight persons were on board when the helicopter “ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.” A statement by Odutayo Oluseyi, Head, Press and Public Relations, stated that the ministry “received the distressing report of a helicopter accident that occurred today, 24th October 2024, at about 11:22 a.m., along the waterways in Port Harcourt. “The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by…

Some oil marketers have started buying petrol directly from Dangote Petroleum Refinery without a recourse to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). According to reports, more oil marketers were intensifying efforts to buy the product directly from the plant, while others were importing the commodity, as hundreds of millions of litres of imported PMS should hit Nigeria’s shores in two weeks’ time. Punch reported on Monday that no fewer than four vessels carrying imported PMS arrived at seaports situated along the nation’s borders between Friday, October 18, and Sunday, October 20. According to the report, a document obtained from…

As the BRICS summit got underway in central city of Kazan in Russia, world leaders made a passionate plea for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine on Wednesday. In what may come as a surprise to many, President Vladimir Putin informed his guests that he welcomed offers to mediate in the Ukraine conflict. Though, the Russian leader is showcasing the meeting to send a message that the West’s attempts to isolate Moscow have failed, some of his closest and most important allies strongly called him to end the war with Ukraine conflict without further blodshed. From what started in…

The United States Department of Justice has warned Elon Musk’s Political Action Committee (PAC) regarding a $1 million giveaway targetted at registered voters in key swing states. Musk, who is a strong backer and vocal supporter of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, has been spending millions to back his presidential campaign. According to CNN, the sweepstakes, which Musk has promoted as part of an effort to boost voter registration, is raising concerns over its legality. The $1 million prize, advertised by his PAC, is intended to encourage voter participation in highly contested states ahead of the 2024 election. However, election…

The governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia has suspended the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim. The commissioner was suspended for joining states challenging the legality of the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The Supreme Court reserved judgment in a suit filed by 19 states challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the EFCC on Tuesday. The 19 states in the suit are Kogi, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Oyo, Benue, Plateau, Cross River, Ondo, Niger, Edo, Bauchi, Imo,…

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, has disclosed that the Fund has disbursed over N10 billion and have received more than 350,000 applications. He made this statement during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing on Wednesday in Abuja. Sawyerr emphasized the fund’s commitment to disbursing a total of 90 billion naira aimed at covering tuition fees and stipends for students in need. He said, “Our mission is to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of their location or background, has access to the education…