Author: Friday Omosola

Donald Trump is set to take the oath of office on Monday as the 47th president of the United States, pledging to expand executive power and deport millions of immigrants as part of his agenda.   Taking the oath inside the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Trump has vowed to seek retribution against political opponents and redefine America’s global role. Due to harsh weather conditions, the swearing-in ceremony, traditionally held on the Capitol’s West Lawn, has been relocated indoors. Incoming Vice President J.D. Vance will also be sworn in during the event. Following the oath, President Trump will deliver his inaugural…

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has pledged to uphold the integrity and dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Speaking on Sunday during a courtesy visit by the PDP Youth Leaders Forum to the Government House, Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the party and preserving its core values.   The governor highlighted the significance of loyalty, unity, and resilience in sustaining the party’s relevance, stating, “We are doing everything possible to keep the true essence of the PDP alive. We are not compromised—we are the authentic PDP, and we will remain steadfast.” Addressing challenges within the party,…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja to represent Nigeria at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) scheduled to hold in Davos, Switzerland. In a statement released on Sunday, Shettima’s spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, announced that the Vice President would join world leaders, top business executives, and representatives of development partners to discuss the state of the global economy and explore strategies to improve its conditions.   While in Davos, the Vice President is set to hold bilateral meetings with other global leaders and participate in workshops and forums scheduled for the annual gathering. READ ALSO: SERAP urges…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration to assist Nigeria in recovering proceeds of corruption stashed in the United States by former and current Nigerian public officials and their associates. In a letter dated January 18, 2025, and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged Trump to direct the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings against the stolen funds and ensure their return to Nigeria. SERAP emphasised that the recovery process must adhere to strict transparency and accountability standards to guarantee that the…

The Presidency has debunked allegations circulating on social media that President Bola Tinubu coerced prominent Nigerians to participate in an arbitration proceeding in Paris involving the Nigerian government. In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described the reports as “fake news” and clarified that the ongoing arbitration process is confidential and should not have been publicised.   “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to some fake news on social media about an arbitration proceeding in Paris to which the Nigerian Government is a party. READ ALSO: Presidency…

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has assured Nigerians that the economic reforms initiated by the Bola Tinubu administration are beginning to yield positive outcomes.  Speaking at The Platform, an event organized by the Covenant Nation on Saturday, Oyedele explained the benefits of the ongoing reforms, emphasizing that removing petrol subsidies was a crucial and necessary step for Nigeria’s progress.   “Subsidy removal is one of the best decisions we have made as a country. For the first time, we can confidently say the subsidy is gone, and we’re no longer living in…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has identified public sector corruption as Nigeria’s most significant challenge, with procurement and contract fraud accounting for 90 per cent of the country’s corruption cases. Olukoyede made this known during a meeting with the management team of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), led by its Director-General, Adebowale Adedokun, at the Commission’s headquarters yesterday.   “In the EFCC, we tackle both private and public sector fraud. However, when it comes to the public sector—one of our greatest challenges in Nigeria—we found that contract and procurement fraud makes up more…

The Brazilian government has confirmed Nigeria’s inclusion as a partner country in the BRICS bloc. This development was announced in a statement released by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.   According to the statement, Brazil emphasised the shared objectives between BRICS and Nigeria, particularly in promoting collaboration among Global South nations and advocating for reforms in international institutions. “Nigeria, with the sixth-largest population in the world and the largest in Africa, as well as its status as one of the continent’s leading economies, shares aligned priorities with BRICS members. READ ALSO: Nigeria, 12 others join BRICS as partner countries…

A Federal High Court in Lagos has prohibited the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from arresting motorists or imposing penalties on drivers for using vehicles with faded number plates. Delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Akintayo Aluko ruled that the FRSC lacks the authority to criminalize the use of faded number plates or penalize drivers without a valid court order.  The decision was made in response to a suit filed by legal practitioner Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube, who challenged the FRSC’s actions. Ezebube, in his suit filed on February 13, 2024, argued that the FRSC, as the sole designer and producer of vehicle…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s economy and transforming the nation’s healthcare system. He made this statement on Friday during a courtesy visit by Mark Daniel Maloney, Chair of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.   Shettima commended Rotary International and other stakeholders for their significant contributions to Nigeria’s development. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to repositioning the Nigerian nation. He is a revolutionary leader who has made far-reaching decisions unmatched in contemporary history,” he said. Highlighting the administration’s priorities, the Vice President…