Author: Friday Omosola

Nigeria has expressed strong opposition to a proposed restructuring of the African Union’s (AU) Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), arguing that such a move would be unnecessary and financially burdensome. Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, in a statement, said his stance was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, during deliberations on AU reforms.  While backing broader efforts to make the continental body more effective, Nigeria rejected the proposal to carve out a new department from PAPS, currently headed by Nigerian diplomat Ambassador Bankole Adeoye. “We do not…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw the recent increase in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fees, describing it as unlawful and unfair.   In an open letter dated February 15, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP warned that the policy would worsen financial hardship for Nigerians. The CBN recently announced that ATM withdrawals outside bank premises would now attract a N100 charge per N20,000, with an additional surcharge of up to N500 at certain locations. SERAP argued that the policy favors banks while…

A report from the Edo State Administrative Panel of Enquiry has exposed alleged financial mismanagement amounting to N96 billion, linking former Governor Godwin Obaseki and the recently impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen to questionable transactions. The panel, inaugurated on December 18, 2024, was tasked with scrutinizing the financial records of the affected local councils between September 4, 2023, and November 2024. Governor Monday Okpebholo, who received the findings over the weekend vowed to escalate the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation. READ ALSO: Osun gov reaffirms commitment to religious equity, cultural heritage According to…

The Lagos State Government has launched the Charity Begins at Home Waste Valorisation Initiative, a strategic waste management project designed to transform waste into economic value while promoting environmental sustainability. The initiative, unveiled during the week at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB) Quadrant in Alausa, was spearheaded by the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy. The event brought together government officials, civil servants, private sector stakeholders, and environmental advocates to witness the launch of infrastructure aimed at redefining waste as an asset. Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Climate Change…

Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State has approved the promotion of 8,476 primary and junior secondary school teachers across the state’s 18 Local government areas. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor said the promotion was part of his administration’s first 100 days in office. The Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (Edo-SUBEB), Onomen Goodness Briggs, described the move as a testament to the governor’s commitment to recognizing the dedication and hard work of teachers. READ ALSO: Akpabio: Okpebholo’s mandate divinely ordained by God “Governor Okpebholo is ensuring that every teacher…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on his 65th birthday. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised El-Rufai’s contributions to democracy, his dedicated service to the nation, and his role in mentoring the younger generation. The President acknowledged El-Rufai’s key involvement in the discussions that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his contributions to the party’s victories in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections. After winning the election and being inaugurated into office, Mr Tinubu nominated El-Rufai as a minister. But…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has defended its recent policy imposing charges on cash withdrawals from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of banks other than a customer’s own. Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise’ programme on Saturday, CBN’s Acting Director of Financial Policy and Regulation, John Onojah stated that the move will benefit both financial institutions and their customers. Onojah added that the policy aims to address cash shortages at ATMs while allowing banks to recover operational costs. “We have secured commitments from banks to ensure that ATMs remain stocked with cash at all times. At a minimum, customers should be…

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has been elected as a member of the Steering Committee of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), the highest decision-making body of the organization.   Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to Mrs Tinubu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. Her election took place during the 29th Ordinary General Assembly of OAFLAD, currently ongoing in Addis Ababa, on the sidelines of the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit. READ ALSO: Binance Executive reveals lawmakers who demanded $150m bribe She joins the eight-member Steering Committee as one of two representatives…

The Nigerian government has refuted allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime, dismissing them as baseless and misleading.  Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, spent eight months in detention in Nigeria over financial crime charges before his release, which came after intervention from the United States government. In a statement posted on X, Gambaryan alleged that his detention led to former U.S. President Joe Biden canceling a scheduled meeting with President Bola Tinubu during the 2024 UN General Assembly (UNGA).  He also accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating his arrest and claimed that the U.S. government scaled…

President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Afenifere chieftain Ayo Adebanjo.   In separate statements, they described Adebanjo’s death as a profound loss to Nigeria. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Adebanjo passed away on Friday at the age of 96.   Tinubu said he received the news with immense sadness, emphasising that Nigeria had lost a political icon whose decades-long struggle for justice, democracy, and national unity had left an enduring legacy. He noted that those who knew Adebanjo drew wisdom from…