Author: Friday Omosola

Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria is set to collaborate with the United Kingdom’s Zander Corporation to restore degraded lands and transform agricultural practices in vulnerable ecological zones. During a meeting yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with Zander Corporation’s management team led by Lord Raymond Benedict Asquith, the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith OBE, Shettima reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to afforestation as a key strategy for combating desertification, promoting sustainable land use, and boosting agricultural productivity. “There is a critical intersection between innovative technology and efforts at combating desertification and agricultural transformation in this country,”…

In commemoration of World Kidney Day, Edesili Anani, wife of Governor Monday Okpebholo, has called on Nigerians to prioritize their kidney health by undergoing regular medical check-ups and adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Mrs Okpebholo emphasised that the kidneys play a crucial role in eliminating waste, regulating blood pressure, and maintaining overall well-being. She stressed the importance of proactive health measures to prevent kidney-related ailments. “I encourage Nigerians, especially women, to pay attention to their kidney health. The kidneys are crucial for removing waste products, detoxifying the body, regulating blood pressure, and maintaining overall well-being.” She urged women to prioritize a…

President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s economic reforms, stating that they are necessary to safeguard the interests of future generations. Speaking at the State House in Abuja yesterday while receiving a delegation of his former National Assembly colleagues from the aborted Third Republic, President Tinubu lamented Nigeria’s past financial practices, which, he said, jeopardized the nation’s future. “For 50 years, Nigeria was spending the money of generations yet unborn and servicing the West Coast of our subregion with fuel. It was getting difficult to plan for our children’s future,” he said. The President acknowledged the economic and social challenges…

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his membership and unwavering loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing speculations suggesting otherwise. In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu yesterday, Buhari made it clear that he remains a committed APC member and wants to be recognized as such. Without referencing any individuals or ongoing discussions within the party, he emphasised his dedication to the APC, which gave him the platform to serve two terms as Nigeria’s president.   “I am an APC member, and I like to be addressed as such. I will try to popularize the party by all…

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has signalled his readiness to work alongside Labour Party’s Peter Obi as the 2027 general elections draw closer. Mohammed made this known on Thursday when he hosted the former presidential candidate at the Bauchi State Government House. Their closed-door discussion, which lasted over an hour at the Ramat House, was followed by a media briefing. While neither leader explicitly confirmed the formation of a political alliance, Mohammed emphasised the importance of collaboration in strengthening governance and providing credible opposition. “As an individual, I am open to working with Peter Obi to foster unity, bridge divides,…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a husband and wife, Baba Abubakar Sadiq and Hafsat Lawal, alongside two accomplices, Abdullahi Bala and Ladani Akindele, for allegedly defrauding victims of N197.75 million by impersonating the First Lady of Katsina State, Fatima Radda. The defendants were brought before Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, and stealing. According to the EFCC, Lawal posed as the First Lady, one of the wives of Katsina State Governor Malam Dikko Radda, to deceive victims into transferring large…

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate on Thursday met privately with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed at the Ramat House in Bauchi. While details of their discussion remain undisclosed, the high-level meeting has fueled speculation about possible political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. Both leaders are expected to address the media after their deliberations. The meeting brings together a key opposition figure from the LP and a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding to the ongoing political maneuvers among Nigeria’s opposition parties. Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential race, trailed…

The trial of former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, over the alleged misappropriation of N5.78 billion in public funds, continued yesterday before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. During the hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its second witness, Musa Oladimeji Dasuki, a retired Permanent Secretary at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), who served between 2011 and 2020. Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, Dasuki testified that the Kwara State Government, under Ahmed’s leadership, requested Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds…

The Lagos State Health Service Commission (HSC) has organised a two-day retreat for Quality Improvement (QI) officers from the state’s 30 General Hospitals, aiming to enhance healthcare service delivery. Held at Orchid Hotel, Lekki, the retreat was conducted in collaboration with PharmAccess Foundation under its Quality Department, SafeCare Healthcare Standards. Themed ‘Sustaining Quality Healthcare Delivery Through Resilient Processes, Innovation, and Continuous Skills Transfer’, the event brought together 180 QI officers, HSC directors, and the Director of Quality at PharmAccess Foundation, Ibironke Dada. Speaking at the retreat, the Permanent Secretary of HSC, Ademuyiwa Benjamin Eniayewun, emphasized the critical role of Quality…

Lagos State has solidified its position as one of Africa’s leading economic powerhouses, with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) soaring to $259 billion based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). This milestone, announced yesterday during the launch of the Lagos Economic Development Update (LEDU) 2025, places Lagos as the second-largest city economy on the continent, trailing only Cairo, Egypt. According to the report, Lagos recorded significant economic growth in the first half of 2024, expanding to N27.38 trillion, a substantial rise from N19.65 trillion in 2023. This growth underscores the state’s resilience amid Nigeria’s economic reforms and continued investment in infrastructure. …