Author: Friday Omosola

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has taken a firm and uncompromising stance against cultism with the passage and signing of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025. In a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor emphasised that this move underscores his administration’s commitment to restoring peace, security, and order in Edo State.   He stated that cultism has held communities hostage for too long. He noted that what was once confined to academic institutions has escalated into a dangerous social menace, threatening lives, disrupting businesses, and undermining the state’s progress. The governor…

At the opening of the 5th meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri yesterday President Bola Tinubu called for a multifaceted approach to the growing security challenges in the region, which has been plagued by terrorism, insurgency, and poverty. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Nigerian leader emphasised the need for not just military action. He also addressed the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, inequality, and the lack of opportunities for young people in the region. “While military power is indispensable, it must be complemented by strategies that tackle poverty, inequality, and unemployment,” President Tinubu…

In consonance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Nigerian voters will in two years’ time -2027 – go to the polls to elect a president who will steer the country’s affairs for another four years. However, while the exact date for the 2027 presidential election remains unknown, yet the political landscape is already upbeat with behind-the-scenes negotiations, alignments and horse-trading among key contenders. Also, major political parties are not left out in the rave of the moment, as they are re-strategizing for the fierce electoral contest. In this report, The New Daily Prime examines the 2027 polls,…

The Labour Party (LP) has described as reckless and ignominious former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government offered a N50 million bribe to the leadership of opposition parties. This came after APC denied the allegation and called Atiku Nigeria’s most prolific electoral litigator. In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, denied ever receiving a kobo from any individual, group, organisation, or government entity that is not a member of the party.   Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, had alleged during a national…

President Bola Tinubu has concluded his official visit to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he participated in the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit alongside other African leaders. The summit, organised by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank, focused on addressing Africa’s energy challenges and achieving electricity access for 300 million people by 2030.   The highlight of the two-day event was the adoption of the Dar es Salaam Declaration, which outlines strategies for improving energy access across the continent. Leaders from 12 countries, including Nigeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, and…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, calling him Nigeria’s most prolific electoral litigator after he claimed that the nation’s democracy was at risk due to judicial involvement in electoral matters. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Atiku made the comments at a national conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja on Monday, where he raised concerns over what he called the “imperilment” of democracy by judicial interference in elections.  He also accused President Bola Tinubu of paying opposition leaders a staggering 50 million Naira each to destabilize opposition parties in the…

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has been appointed as the new chairman of the South-South Governors Forum. The announcement came during the ongoing meeting of the Forum in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. A statement released on Tuesday after the meeting confirmed his appointment.  The communique stated, “The South-South Governors’ Forum convened on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, at Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to discuss pressing issues and strategies vital for the unity and development of the region,” the communique read. READ ALSO: Gov Diri inaugurates 15 Permanent Secretaries “We the Governors representing the States that form…

In a move aimed at strengthening security in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang inspected the Mobile Police Training Centre in Gashish District, Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, as well as the proposed site for a Mobile Police Barracks in Kwall, Bassa Local Government Area. Both initiatives are set to begin immediately, marking a significant step toward enhanced security in rural communities across the state.Accompanied by Plateau State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Adesina, Governor Mutfwang addressed a gathering that included the indigenous Berom people and the Fulani community. He called for an end to hostilities and urged all groups involved in…

The Federal Government (FG), through its marriage registry, generated N2.4 billion from marriage contracts in 2024. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said this during a media parley with heads of agencies under the ministry in Abuja on Tuesday. The minister also highlighted plans to bolster border security to reduce the influx of irregular migrants. He revealed that revenue from expatriate quota applications hit over N3.2 billion in 2024, representing a 150 per cent increase in total revenue. READ ALSO: Tunji-Ojo advocates government-academia partnership to strengthen education  Additionally, the minister noted that in 2023, the ministry surpassed its projected revenue…

A Chief Magistrate Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned the trial of Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife; an Ibadan-based broadcaster and Chairman of a radio station, Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and the Principal of Islamic High School, Basorun, Abdulahib Fasasi. The defendants face charges of conspiracy, murder, manslaughter, and negligence related to the deaths of 35 children during a stampede at a Christmas funfair held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on December 18, 2024. Initially arraigned on a holden charge—a temporary legal mechanism not recognised under Nigerian law—the defendants were remanded in custody but were…