Author: Friday Omosola

The National Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intensify its oversight of funds allocated to local governments across Nigeria, following the financial autonomy recently granted to them.   The appeal was made yesterday during a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. NCYP Chairman, Isaac Abrak, led the delegation and emphasized the urgent need for stricter financial monitoring to ensure that resources reaching local governments are effectively utilized. “We come from the grassroots and understand the realities on the ground. We commend the President for granting local government autonomy, but proper…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has renewed its push for the establishment of a special tribunal dedicated to electoral offences. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, emphasised the need for such a tribunal due to the growing backlog of electoral offence cases.  Speaking in Abuja on Friday during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with the media, Yakubu highlighted the challenges posed by the current judicial process. “A major challenge to the swift resolution of electoral offences is the lack of a time-bound framework, unlike post-election disputes handled by tribunals. READ ALSO: INEC announces date for 2026 FCT area council elections…

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has taken a significant step in enhancing national service delivery under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu. Following the successful implementation of the Contactless Passport Renewal System in Canada, the NIS has now expanded the initiative to Europe. In a statement on Friday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the move as another pivotal milestone in the government’s commitment to streamlining and improving service efficiency for Nigerians at home and abroad. He emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu administration. Tunji-Ojo stated that, as seen in Canada, the…

In a strategic move to bolster internal security and enhance swift responses to violent crimes, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has appointed Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle to lead the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), Elections Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, and the Safe School Protection Squad.   Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Friday, announced that as part of the IGP’s initiatives to improve security and combat crime along inland waterways, Chima Ogarashi has been appointed as the new Force Marine Officer (FMO). Adejobi described Shogunle as a highly experienced officer with expertise in operations, public relations, and…

The Lagos State Government has announced the deployment of four new Intelligent Transport System (ITS) sites to monitor speed and traffic violations across the state. Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, revealed that the initiative is a collaboration with Huawei Technologies.  The new installations will complement existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and Traffic Management Solution devices. READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Presents N3.05trn 2025 Budget To Lagos Assembly “These checkpoints are strategically placed to detect overspeeding. One is located at Alapere, Ogudu Road, with an 80km/h speed limit, while another is at Nitel, Mobolaji Bank…

Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has criticised the increase in the 2025 budget, stating that there is no corresponding breakdown of expenditures to justify it. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu raised the proposed 2025 budget from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion, citing additional revenues from key government agencies as the reason for the increase.   The revised figures were conveyed in separate letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives. Reacting in a statement on his X page on Friday, the former Anambra State governor noted that Nigerians…

The Nigeria Police Force arrested 82 individuals in January 2025 for a range of financial and cyber-related crimes, including internet fraud, romance scams, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, transnational fraud, and other cyber offences. Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Thursday said the operation was spearheaded by the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC), which successfully apprehended 32 of the suspects across the country. He added that the crackdown underscored the police’s commitment, under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to its Action Plan aimed at redeeming the nation’s reputation and moving it off the FATF Grey List. Adejobi said police…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria is seeing a rise in reverse medical tourism, with patients from the United States and other countries flocking to the nation’s hospitals for affordable, high-quality kidney transplants.  This surge, he said, is attributed to both the cost-effectiveness and the exceptional expertise available within the country’s medical community. Shettima made this observation during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) at the Presidential Villa, ahead of the association’s 37th Scientific Conference. He pointed out that the affordability and expertise found in Nigerian healthcare facilities are key reasons why patients are increasingly…

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that Nigeria’s economy and security improved significantly during his eight-year tenure.   Speaking yesterday at his residence in Daura, Katsina State, he addressed members of the Katsina State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, emphasising the strides made under his leadership.   He claimed to have inherited a struggling economy and severe security challenges from the Peoples Democratic Party, which had governed for 16 years. READ ALSO: Sowore faults accolades for Buhari at 82 However, he maintained that his administration’s policies effectively addressed these issues, reducing terrorism and economic difficulties. “Nigeria’s security and economy…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opted not to present witnesses in its defence at the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja. At the tribunal’s resumed hearing on Thursday, INEC, represented by its lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, announced that it would not be calling any witnesses to support its declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the September 21 governorship election. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that INEC declared Okpebholo the winner of the Edo governorship election with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes. This…