Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lauded the successful conduct of the local government elections in Rivers State, describing the development as a crucial milestone towards the full restoration of democratic structures in the state. Wike made the remarks on Saturday after casting his vote at Ward 9, Unit 7 in his hometown of Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. The former Rivers State governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring the elections went ahead as scheduled on 18 September, calling it a significant move in addressing the state’s political impasse. “The successful…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State, describing the polls as a significant step towards stabilising governance at the grassroots level. Speaking shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Ward 9 (Rumuepirikom Kingdom) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Saturday, Wike praised the turnout of voters and commended the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for organising what he called a successful exercise. “I want to thank RSIEC for the successful conduct of the local government elections,” the minister said.…

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday, made headlines after purchasing all the puff-puff sold by a roadside vendor for ₦50,000 during a rally in Osogbo, before offering her employment as a chef at the Government House. The incident occurred during an appreciation solidarity rally organised by Osun public servants, who trooped out in their thousands to commend the governor’s welfare initiatives since assuming office. In a viral video from the event, Governor Adeleke, seated in a bus, beckoned to the female vendor and inquired about the cost of all her snacks. He then handed her a bundle of ₦50,000…

The Lagos State Government has revealed that a total of 8,692 cases of domestic and sexual violence were reported between August 2024 and July 2025, with domestic violence making up the largest share. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, disclosed the figures on Friday during a press briefing to kick off the 2025 Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olanrewaju Oyenuga, Pedro said the statistics reflect the state’s unwavering commitment to a zero-tolerance policy for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Breakdown of Reported Cases Of the 8,692 cases, 3,685 were…

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has revealed a significant surge in diaspora remittance inflows, which have risen from $200 million to $600 million per month. Cardoso made the disclosure on Thursday during the Delta State–Brazil Business and Investment Roundtable in São Paulo, Brazil. He attributed the sharp increase to the apex bank’s recent policy reforms aimed at enhancing confidence in foreign exchange (FX) remittance channels. “When we started looking at diaspora flows as a potential source of diversifying our foreign exchange flows, people laughed,” Cardoso said. “We started off at about $200 million every month.…

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the state government to increase the minimum wage for workers to ₦150,000, citing the rising cost of living and recent wage hikes in other states. State NLC Chairperson, Comrade Funmi Sesi, made the demand on Thursday while responding to the recent upward wage reviews by the governments of Imo and Ebonyi states. According to Sesi, Lagos workers currently earn a minimum wage of ₦85,000 and deserve more, especially given the higher costs of accommodation, transportation, food, and basic utilities in the state. READ ALSO: LP accuses NLC’s…

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has dismissed growing speculation that he is positioning himself for the vice-presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Governor Mohammed addressed rumours circulating within political circles, clarifying that he has no personal agenda to secure the party’s vice-presidential slot. “I am not withdrawing because I want to prepare myself for the vice presidency,” Mohammed said. “Of course, if it is within the consensus of our party leaders and the presidential candidate to choose me, I am ready. But certainly, if I…

Authorities in the City of Tshwane have begun demolishing two illegally constructed high-rise buildings owned by Nigerian property developer George Asaba, following multiple court rulings that declared the structures unsafe and in breach of municipal regulations. The demolition, which began this week, follows a March 2025 ruling by the Gauteng High Court ordering the removal of the buildings on Luttig Street in Pretoria West. The court found that Asaba had failed to submit approved building plans and that the buildings posed serious safety and health risks, violating both zoning and construction laws. Despite filing an appeal, Asaba’s case was dismissed…

The Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party has issued a scathing criticism of President Bola Tinubu over the worsening security situation in the country, urging him to take decisive action or step down from office. In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, accused Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing Nigerians, particularly in the area of national security. READ ALSO: Labour party issues 48-hour ultimatum to Peter Obi over coalition move The statement pointed to the allocation of over ₦6.5 trillion and several billions of US dollars to…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recent increase in the cost of international passports in Nigeria. In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Obi criticised the current administration’s persistent focus on imposing financial burdens on ordinary citizens. The Federal Government announced on Thursday a significant rise in passport fees. Under the new pricing, a 32-page international passport now costs ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport is priced at ₦200,000. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and a prominent political figure, highlighted the disproportionate nature of this hike, particularly…