Author: Friday Omosola

To drive Nigeria’s economic growth and reduce poverty, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has introduced an ambitious economic plan for sustainable development. In a statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, the Minister announced a ₦50 trillion budget for 2025, focused on strategic investments and extensive reforms. Speaking during the Citizen and Stakeholder Engagement session held at the Ministry’s Auditorium in Abuja, Edun underscored President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to economic reforms aimed at achieving sustained and inclusive growth. The overarching goal, he emphasised, is to lift millions…

An elated Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has commended the Federal Government for lifting the ban on mining activities in Zamfara State. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, announced the end of the five-year mining ban in the state. Speaking to journalists in Gusau, the state capital, Matawalle stated that the move would attract investors and significantly boost the state’s socio-economic development. He highlighted the setbacks experienced due to the imposed ban by the then President Muhammadu Buhari – led administration to curb insecurity, noting that the state had lost…

Former Anambra State Governor Mr Peter Obi has faulted the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for imposing restrictions on the distribution of palliatives to the less- privileged. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Egbetokun directed palliative distribution organisers to involve security agencies and strictly adhere to crowd and safety management protocols. This directive came in response to multiple stampedes during the distribution of food items in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja, which led to several deaths and injuries. In a statement shared on his X page today, Obi expressed concern over the directive, describing it as disturbing despite…

The Federal Government (FG) has announced Wednesday, December 25, Thursday, December 26, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations respectively. This declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani. Tunji-Ojo extended warm greetings to Nigerians and urged them to use the festive season to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season represents. He emphasised the importance of fostering harmony and strengthening familial and communal bonds during this period. He also called…

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has called for the release of Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife and organiser of the funfair that led to the stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State. Earlier, The New Daily Prime reported that Naomi, along with seven others, was arrested following the stampede at a funfair held at Basorun Islamic High School in Ibadan.  The incident resulted in the death of 35 children. Naomi was hospitalised after her arrest. In a statement shared on his X page yesterday, Obi expressed that the ex-queen should not…

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has presented the 2025 budget proposal valued at N540.37 billion to the State House of Assembly. In a statement yesterday, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary said he emphasised his administration’s commitment to completing ongoing projects, initiating new ones, and supporting vulnerable populations. The budget tagged the “Budget of Economic Stability and Sustained Prosperity,” allocates 62.1 per cent to capital expenditure and 37.9 per cent to recurrent costs, with a focus on infrastructure development, social protection, and economic growth across the state. The governor outlined key projects, including the construction of 250 mass housing…

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesman for the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential campaign council, has called for the resignation of Nigeria’s current leadership, led by President Bola Tinubu. Okonkwo, who left the LP in July this year, attributed the recent stampedes in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija—communities in Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States, respectively—to the hunger and hardship caused by President Tinubu’s reforms. Earlier, The New Daily Prime reported that many lives were feared lost during stampedes at funfairs and palliative distributions for underprivileged individuals. In a statement shared on his Instagram account on Saturday, the 56-year-old described Tinubu’s reforms as “excruciating…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the federal government’s (FG) 2025 budget, labelling it insufficient to address Nigeria’s pressing economic challenges.   The New Daily Prime earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu presented an N49.7 trillion budget to the National Assembly last week, tagged the “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Building Prosperity.”   In a statement on his X page today, Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed concerns over the budget’s dependence on excessive borrowing, poor allocation priorities, and the absence of structural reforms. READ ALSO: Atiku faults Tinubu’s tax reform bills, warns National Assembly…

To check the growing cases of tragic stampedes in Abuja, Anambra and Oyo, the Ondo State Government has issued crowd control directives aimed at preventing similar incidents within its jurisdiction. These guidelines, announced by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, outline measures to ensure public safety during events and gatherings. Stampede during events such as funfairs and palliative distributions have recently claimed lives in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja, heightening concerns over crowd management. In a statement issued by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the government unveiled “Directive No. 01-1224”, a document designed to…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged National Assembly to slash the proposed N9.4 billion budget for travel, meals, and catering materials for the presidency. The organisation also called for the cut of N344.85 billion allocated to the National Assembly, and redirect the savings to address Nigeria’s growing budget deficit. In a letter dated December 21, 2024, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation also urged the National Assembly to request Tinubu to submit a supplementary appropriation bill reflecting reduced spending. SERAP demanded transparency, urging them to publicly disclose a detailed breakdown of the National Assembly’s…