Author: Friday Omosola

Professor Mahmood Yakubu has confirmed that his decision to step down as head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was to create room for a new chairman to be appointed. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Yakubu resigned on Tuesday and handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu, a national commissioner, as the acting chairman. This transition ceremony took place at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a scheduled consultation meeting with all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). READ ALSO: INEC boss Yakubu resigns after 10yrs, hands over to acting chair Yakubu added that by stepping aside now, he hopes to give…

History was made in Ogun State on Tuesday as Governor Dapo Abiodun inaugurated the first commercial flight operations at the Gateway International Airport, Ilishan Remo. The inaugural commercial service was operated by Valuejet, with a flight carrying 90 passengers and registered as 5N-BXS, which departed the airport at 10:10 a.m. heading to Abuja. Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at the airport located along the Iperu-Ilisan road in the Ikenne Local Government Area, Abiodun stated that the realization of the airport, which began construction in late 2021, is a key component of his administration’s vision for a comprehensive transport…

The Nigerian Senate has given its nod to a proposed law that aims to penalize citizens found guilty of crimes in other nations by withdrawing their international passports for at least a decade. This action is a key part of an effort to improve Nigeria’s standing on the global stage. READ ALSO: Suspended Kogi Senator Natasha returns as senate resumes The legislation, put forward by Senator Abubakar Bello (Niger North), proposes modifications to the Passport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. These changes would introduce significant penalties intended to discourage unlawful behavior by Nigerians overseas and to restore the credibility of the Nigerian passport.…

President Bola Tinubu has accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the conclusion of his second term in office. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Yakubu handed over Mary Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior member, to serve as acting chairman pending a substantive appointment. READ ALSO: Tinubu to present INEC chair successor at council of state meeting Thursday Yakubu, who served as the 14th chairman of the electoral body, was first appointed in November 2015 for an initial five-year tenure, which was subsequently renewed in 2020. With the expiration of…

House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has issued a strong call to fellow lawmakers, urging them to collaborate intensely to ensure that all amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act are finalized and enacted well in advance of the 2027 general elections. Speaking to the assembly upon their return from their annual recess on Tuesday, Abbas emphasised the legislature’s fundamental duty to fix the problems observed in previous polls and thereby bolster the integrity and credibility of future electoral exercises. “We absolutely must wrap up electoral reforms a considerable time before the 2027 general elections commence,” Abbas stated to his colleagues.…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday assessed the damage caused by a fire incident that occurred late Monday evening at a section of the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt. Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary, in a statement said his principal, during his visit, promised the immediate commencement of rehabilitation work. The fire, which the governor described as “unfortunate,” affected an area of the complex that serves as a creche for the children of civil servants. READ ALSO: Governor Fubara swears in Austin Ezekiel Hart as Permanent Secretary Upon his arrival at the complex, Fubara was received by a…

After a ten-week break, the Nigerian Senate convened for its plenary session on Tuesday, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio setting a determined tone for the lawmakers. In his opening remarks, Akpabio firmly committed the Senate to a path of accountability, discipline, and effective governance. Addressing the Nigerian populace directly, the Senate President acknowledged their demands, stating, “We hear you. You asked us not for excuses, but for results. We will remain accountable and responsive.” READ ALSO: Akpabio foresees more opposition governors defecting to APC He stressed that the legislative branch’s role is a “sacred duty of trust and not theatrics,” cautioning…

The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport has received approval from the Federal Government, FG, through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Yinka Oyebode, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday, saying scheduled flight operations, also known as commercial flights, take effect from October 4. Oyebode said the development follows a regulatory inspection and the expiration of the airport’s previous approval for non-scheduled flights, which was initially valid until December 2024. READ ALSO: Isaac Fayose laments state of road to his village, blasts brother, Ekiti gov According to him, the new approval was…

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, have both called for an urgent review and amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to strengthen democracy, enhance national security, and grant autonomy to local governments. The reforms proposed by the leaders will have the backing of NASS to ensure their implementation. Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a consultative session with political party leaders, organised by the House Committee on Constitution Review, the leaders emphasised the necessity of a revised legal framework that actively supports and empowers Nigeria’s democratic system. The leadership of…

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s crude oil production is on track to reach the 1.8 million barrels per day (BPD) benchmark before the close of the year. Ojulari made this assertion yesterday, following a visit to brief President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on the national oil company’s activities since his appointment on April 2. “With some of the turnaround maintenance that we have done in August and September, all of those are meant to come back this month,” Ojulari stated. READ ALSO: Ojulari urges Africa to…