Author: Friday Omosola

The Ondo State government has distributed N34 million to 46 individuals as part of a medical financial assistance programme. Governor Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, announced this in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that the governor personally handed over cheques to the beneficiaries. Speaking through the state’s health commissioner, Banji Ajaka, Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasised that financial aid was provided to individuals facing various medical challenges but unable to afford treatment. The commissioner urged the recipients to use the funds exclusively for their intended purpose. Ajaka further highlighted that the administration has consistently prioritized the health and well-being of its…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for state workers. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Dotun Oyelade, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation. According to Oyelade, the wage increase comes following recommendations from a Technical Committee established by the state government. The committee, composed of government officials and labor representatives gained Governor Makinde’s approval to implement the new salary scale once all consequential adjustments are completed. Highlighting the state’s recent achievements, Oyelade noted that Oyo was recognised as the most worker-friendly state in Southern Nigeria. This rating, provided by the National…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election serves as a valuable lesson for Nigeria on the importance of maintaining an electoral process with integrity to achieve credible outcomes. In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Wednesday, Atiku expressed hope that the Trump administration would be steadfast in supporting free and fair elections in Nigeria and across the globe. He further emphasised that Trump’s victory stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of democracy. Atiku described the win as a timeless reminder of democracy’s enduring…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered rescheduling the Federal Executive Council (NEC) meeting till further notice in honouring the late Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja. Earlier, The New Daily Prime reported that President Tinubu announced the death of Lagbaja on Wednesday. He died at 56-years-old after a brief illness on Tuesday night. Tinubu disclosed this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday. General Lagbaja served as the Chief of Army Staff from June 19, 2023, till his death on November 5, 2024. President Tinubu also ordered flags to be flown at…

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed satisfaction with the readiness of INEC offices in Akure North and Akure South Local Government Areas ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State. Speaking during his Tuesday inspection of the offices, Yakubu praised the level of preparation, calling it “impressive.” “This level of readiness is rarely achieved at this stage,” he remarked, noting that essential items have already arrived in the state. “We’ve inspected kit bags, checked crucial materials, and ensured that all essentials are in place. Sensitive materials, like ballot papers and result…

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. In a statement from Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu announced that Lagbaja passed away in Lagos on Tuesday night after an illness. He was 56 years old. Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja’s military journey began when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps on September 19, 1992, as part of the 39th Regular Course. His career…

President Bola Tinubu has advised the 119 suspects from the August 1 protests in Kano and Kaduna States to use their presidential pardon as an opportunity to become responsible citizens. In a message conveyed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the suspects were urged to avoid actions that lead to violence and destruction of property. The Vice President reassured them of the federal government’s commitment to addressing national challenges. The formal handover ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where 112 suspects, including 73 from Kano and 39 from Kaduna, were returned to their state governors. Seven…

The Federal Government (FG) has launched a strategic initiative to extend financial protection to millions of uninsured Nigerians. This move, marking the initial major phase of the newly signed Aso Accord, brings together the country’s leading financial and insurance regulators in a unified effort to reshape Nigeria’s insurance industry. During a roundtable on Tuesday, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadejia, announced that the roundtable’s outcomes would be submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC). He underscored the economic necessity of financial inclusion through insurance, stating, “We cannot build a resilient economy…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling its nutrition challenges through a community-led approach designed to improve nutrition outcomes across the nation’s 774 local government areas (LGAs). Meanwhile, the World Bank has praised the N-774 initiative’s strategic framework as a promising model for combating malnutrition within Nigeria and potentially across the broader region. In a meeting on Tuesday with a high-level World Bank Group delegation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, VP Shettima outlined the N-774 Initiative, which leverages successful results from the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project. The Vice President, while recognizing the World Bank’s…

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) has emphasised the need for collective action and visionary leadership to address Nigeria’s chronic power crisis. He said another familiar announcement confirmed on Tuesday that Nigeria’s National Grid collapsed again, which he said underscored the nation’s ongoing struggle with unreliable electricity. Drawing a comparison with South Africa, Obi noted that on October 25, the country celebrated seven months of uninterrupted power supply. “South Africa, once the second-largest economy in Africa after Nigeria and with only a quarter of our population, generates and distributes about 40,000 megawatts of electricity,” he…