Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Rivers State House of Assembly resumed plenary on Wednesday, following the expiration of the six-month state of emergency imposed by President Bola Tinubu. The emergency rule, declared on 18 March 2025, was lifted on Tuesday, 17 September, by President Tinubu. The directive also mandated Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Dr Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly to resume their official duties with immediate effect. Wednesday’s plenary session was presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, and held at the conference hall within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt. The venue has served as the Assembly’s temporary…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has triggered a wave of sharply divided responses from political stakeholders, legal experts, and civil rights activists. On 18 March 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly. In their place, he appointed a sole administrator, retired Rear Admiral Ibok Ibas, to govern the state. However, in a national broadcast on Wednesday, Tinubu announced the termination of the emergency rule, effective midnight on 18 September. “The Governor, His…

Osogbo – Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed rumours suggesting he plans to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the reports as false and politically motivated. In a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor reaffirmed his allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating he has no intention of leaving the party. “The report is not only untrue but a calculated attempt by those afraid of the Governor’s soaring acceptability to create confusion and uncertainty in the minds of the people of Osun State,” the statement read. Governor Adeleke alleged that political opponents,…

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has denied allegations of illegal abduction following claims made by Nollywood actor and activist, Stanley Ontop, regarding a recent operation at an orphanage in Delta State. According to NEW DAILY PRIME, Ontop alleged that NAPTIP conducted an unlawful raid on Happy Orphanage Home in Asaba on 15 June 2025, during which eight children were taken and subsequently relocated to Nasarawa Orphanage Home in Kano State. He further accused the agency of forcibly converting the children to Islam and changing their names. In response to the viral claims, NAPTIP issued…

The Deputy National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okechukwu Osuoha, has called on Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to demonstrate loyalty to the party and recommit to peace and development as he resumes office following the end of the six-month emergency rule. Osuoha made the remarks while addressing journalists on Tuesday, urging the governor to embrace accountability and reconciliation after the expiration of the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025. “He has to come back to office because the suspension was for six months, and there has been no extension. Therefore, he…

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that the company’s truck drivers earn nearly four times the Nigerian national minimum wage, adding that their salaries often exceed those of university graduates. Dangote made the disclosure on Tuesday during an interview with Arise Television, in response to concerns raised by stakeholders over the company’s recent launch of new trucks and its relationship with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). Speaking on allegations that Dangote Group’s new transport initiative could lead to job losses, the billionaire industrialist dismissed the claims, stating: “The trucks we launched didn’t stop…

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has described President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms as the most ambitious overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal framework in decades, forecasting that Tinubu will be remembered as the country’s foremost economic reformer. Dogara made the remarks on Tuesday during the inaugural Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. Delivering a lecture titled “Navigating Tax Reform in Nigeria: Insights on President Tinubu’s Policies,” Dogara explored the origins, scope, and potential impact of the reform initiatives enshrined in the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and…

Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has announced the creation of 1,000 new job opportunities for young graduates through its 2025/2026 Graduate Trainee Programme, following the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the 4% Free on Board (FOB) levy on imported goods. The levy, which sparked widespread criticism from manufacturers, importers, and customs agents, was recently suspended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun. The Minister admitted that the policy, initially introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service, posed risks to economic stability, trade competitiveness, and the country’s overall business climate. In a statement issued on Wednesday,…

The Federal Government on Tuesday announced a series of new agricultural investment incentives aimed at creating 21 million jobs and combating growing food insecurity across Nigeria. The initiatives were unveiled by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum held in Abuja. Shettima outlined key reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, including expanded irrigation systems, improved access to agricultural credit, land registration reforms, and enhanced mechanisation. He noted that these efforts could transform rural communities into hubs of economic growth while boosting national food security. “Hunger is the great equaliser…

President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has expressed strong doubts about the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, saying it is no longer viable in today’s world and that Nigeria must stop deceiving itself about its prospects. In a video making rounds on social media, Africa’s richest man said no nation can be built without a steel industry, but insisted that Ajaokuta, in its current state, cannot work. “There is no nation that you can build without a steel industry and honestly, within us here, Ajaokuta Steel Company will not work,” Dangote said. “We can keep…