Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

Abuja, Nigeria—A growing chorus of independent petroleum marketers in Nigeria is calling for direct access to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the Dangote Refinery, as concerns mount over the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (NNPCL) control of the petrol supply chain. This comes after The New Daily Prime gathered that the Federal Government – NNPCL would remain the sole buyer of petrol from the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, which may effectively sideline other marketers from purchasing directly. Chinedu Ukadike, National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), expressed frustration, stating, “The market should be open for…

Benin City, Nigeria—In a major show of support, Vice President Kashim Shettima made a compelling case for Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming Edo State governorship election. Speaking to a large crowd in Benin on Saturday, 14 September, 2024. Shettima emphasized Okpebholo’s leadership qualities, describing him as a “strategic thinker” with a deep connection to the people of Edo State. “Edo needs a compassionate leader, one who is in tune with the yearnings and aspirations of its people,” Shettima said, praising Okpebholo’s grassroots approach and commitment to serving the public. He further highlighted the APC…

Abuja, Nigeria—As the Edo State gubernatorial election approaches, mounting legal troubles have cast a shadow over the candidacy of Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominee. In a development that has ignited debate over electoral integrity, Okpebholo has been summoned to appear before a Magistrate’s Court in Abuja on allegations of falsifying his date of birth on official documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The summons, issued by Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar, requires Okpebholo to be present at the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court on Friday, September 20, 2024, just a day before the election. At the…

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has reopened its verification portal, resolving a months-long disruption that caused significant hardship for Nigerian healthcare professionals seeking employment abroad. The portal, a critical tool for verifying the credentials of nurses and midwives, had been unexpectedly closed, leaving many professionals in limbo. The closure sparked protests and even legal challenges, with some nurses facing deportation or employment loss due to their inability to provide the necessary verification. The NMCN announced the portal’s reopening on Friday, stating, “Good news, verification requests are back online.” This development has brought relief to countless nurses and…

Port Harcourt, Nigeria — Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, has drawn a firm line in the sand, publicly declaring that he will no longer support his political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in any future political endeavors. In a recent interview, Wike, who was instrumental in Fubara’s rise to power during the March 2023 elections, expressed his frustrations with what he sees as betrayal by the current governor. “I will never support Fubara in my political life again,” Wike said, underscoring the depth of the fallout between the two political heavyweights.…

A 10-month search for two missing children has come to a heartwarming conclusion for Agnes Forte, a visually impaired mother, who was reunited with her two-year-old daughter, Excel, and her step-sister, Joy, after their mysterious disappearance last November. The children were found at an orphanage in Lagos, bringing a close to the family’s emotional ordeal.  The two girls went missing on November 28, 2023, while playing near their home in Akowonjo, Lagos State. According to Agnes, the last time she heard their voices was when they were playing in the corridor of their apartment. After a brief period of silence,…

The UK government has announced a 31% increase in the maintenance fees requirements for international students applying for student visas. According to the Home Office, students planning to study in London will now need to show proof of £1,483 per month, while those studying outside of London must provide evidence of £1,136 per month to cover their living expenses. This marks a notable increase from the previous rates of £1,334 for London and £1,023 for other UK cities. Under the new rules, students enrolled in courses lasting nine months or more will need to demonstrate that they have at least…

Emmanuel Ihejirika, a Nigerian man who spent nearly 20 years on death row in Indonesia, has been finally released from the prison. Ihejirika, who was 31 years old when arrested in 2004 for smuggling heroin, was initially sentenced to life imprisonment. However, his sentence was later escalated to the death penalty, leaving him on the brink of execution in one of the world’s harshest drug enforcement countries. Ihejirika’s case caught international attention when a high-profile Nigerian delegation, led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa and former Chairman of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mr. Ipinmosho, along with Ambassador Ojo Madueke, visited…

Manchester, U.K. — In a case that has shocked the community and raised troubling questions about responsibility and care, Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old NHS nurse, has been sentenced to three years in prison for leaving her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele, unattended while she worked a shift, resulting in the baby’s death. Auta, a single mother and nurse at Royal Bolton Hospital, left Joshua in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours on December 20, 2022, while she worked. When she returned, she found her son unresponsive in his cot. Despite her frantic call to emergency services and resuscitation efforts, Joshua was…

Manchester, U.K. — In a case that has shocked the community and raised troubling questions about responsibility and care, Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old NHS nurse, has been sentenced to three years in prison for leaving her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele, unattended while she worked a shift, resulting in the baby’s death. Auta, a single mother and nurse at Royal Bolton Hospital, left Joshua in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours on December 20, 2022, while she worked. When she returned, she found her son unresponsive in his cot. Despite her frantic call to emergency services and resuscitation efforts, Joshua was…