Author: Dave Oludare Oso

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his decision to oppose the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general elections. The minister, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, denied allegations of engaging in anti-party activities, explaining that his decision to work against Atiku was driven by the principles of justice, equity, and fairness. The former Rivers State governor, who has been having a running battle with his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, maintained that he has no regrets over his actions and owes no one an apology. He said,…

In a move to stop further interference in how they spend the money belonging to their people, 16 state governments have are challenging the constitutionality of the law establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The states are contending that the constitution is supreme and that any law inconsistent with it is a nullity. The crux of their contention is that ”the federal government through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) or any other agency lacks the power to issue any directive, guideline, advisory or any instrument howsoever called for the administration and management of funds belonging to a…

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has denied reports that he directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its refineries and focus solely on equity participation in others. In a press statement on Wednesday, the minister stated: “My attention has been drawn to statements made by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented me at a recent conference in Lagos. “I wish to categorically state that the claim that I directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its own refineries and focus…

To avert another disruption in the academic calendar of universities, the Federal Ministry of Education has set up a 31-man panel to renegotiate the agreement entered into between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). According to the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the committee will be inaugurated next Wednesday. This development comes following a fresh strike threat issued by ASUU. Boriowo said, “The government has started working, and I am sure that ASUU won’t be embarking on a strike because a number of developments are ongoing.A 31-man renegotiation committee has been…

The federal government has disclosed plans by a consortium of investors from South Korea to build four 100,000-barrel capacity refineries in various locations in Nigeria. Making the announcement at the maiden edition of a summit organized by the Crude Oil Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Federal Government is encouraging investors to build refineries by providing an open environment for all. The minister noted that approval was recently granted to invite the consortium, the name of which he did not mention, saying, “We encourage…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to confirm on Tuesday evening that Israel had successfully assassinated projected new Hezbollah leader, Hashem Safieddine, who was targeted in an airstrike in Beirut last Thursday, and claimed Israel has also killed the next in line for the job. In a video message addressed to the Lebanese public, Netanyahu said that Israel has “degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities; we took out thousands of terrorists, including (longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah himself, and Nasrallah’s replacement, and his replacement’s replacement.” The premier stressed, “Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been in many, many years.” Netanyahu did not identify…

Nigeria must enhance its crude oil production capacity and effectively manage its crude supply to ensure adequate feedstock for domestic refineries, in order to transit from a net importer to a net exporter of petroleum products. Chairman of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited, Aliko Dangote, made this assertion during his keynote address at a summit held in Lagos by the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN). The event attracted top government officials and key stakeholders from the midstream and downstream sectors. Addressing Nigeria’s potential as a refining hub, Dangote expressed concern that, despite producing over 3.4 million…

About 21 passengers are feared dead in a boat accident that occurred at Imore town in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State. The state police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this on Tuesday in Lagos. Hundeyin said the police received a distress call about the accident on Monday. He said, “A distress call was received at Ilashe Division that two unregistered passenger boats, both having 16 passengers onboard, collided at the middle of the lagoon at Imore Town. In the process, the boats capsized and passengers got drowned with the goods.’’ The spokesperson said that emergency responders consequently stormed the…

Less than a week after assuming office, the mayor of Chilpancingo, a city in southern Mexico, Alejandro Arcosa has been assassinated. According to officials on Sunday, Arcos won an election on behalf of an opposition coalition that included the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in June. Expectedly, a barrage of condemnations has trailed the killing. Guerrero State governor, Evelyn Salgado, wrote on social media, ”The killing of Chilpancingo mayor, Alejandro Arcos fills us with indignation,” but did not provide further details of the circumstances. Also, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), referred to his murder as a “cowardly crime” and demanded accountability. The…

The Borno State government has launched an e-staff Web App in government institutions to safeguard sensitive information and documents from leakages and unauthorized access. The App is a secured online platform that stores and manages sensitive information, as well as reduces the risk of unauthorized access. The WebApp was unveiled on Tuesday in Maiduguri during a five-day capacity-building workshop organized for information custodians across the state. The theme of the workshop is, “Misinformation and Information Leakages as Challenges to Human Resources Administration in the New Media Era.” The workshop was organized by the Borno State government, AMSAM Konsult Ltd, with…