In a significant diplomatic development, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has accepted an invitation from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to visit Nigeria later in 2025. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy in a statement on Thursday said the invitation was extended during bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025. President Tinubu,…

As Nigeria celebrates Armed Forces Remembrance Day, a retired military officer, Colonel Nasiru Salami, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the treatment of Nigerian Army retirees, describing it as unfair and disheartening. The 76-year-old civil war veteran shared his story as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ programme.  Recounting his journey, Salami revealed that he enlisted in the Nigerian Army in October 1967 and, after just six weeks of…

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Livestock Development has raised concerns over the proposed N11.8 billion budget allocation for the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, describing it as insufficient for the ministry’s successful launch. The Federal Government allocated N10 billion for capital expenditure and N1.8 billion for operational costs in the ministry’s 2025 budget. During the budget defence session on Tuesday, Minister Idi Maiha, along with senior officials…

Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, has urged lawmakers to renew their dedication to addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, with an emphasis on national development and legislative reforms. During a plenary session on Tuesday, which marked the Senate’s return after the holiday break, Akpabio made this call for renewed commitment.  In his speech titled “Rising to the Greatness of Our Calling”, he emphasised the necessity for a collective resolve to…

The Ekiti State government has taken proactive steps to ensure food security by establishing storage facilities across the state. These facilities aim to purchase and store farm produce during harvest seasons, releasing them during periods of scarcity to stabilize food supply and prices. Governor Biodun Oyebanji, during an inspection of one of the storage facilities in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, explained that the initiative is part of efforts to prevent the food…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it is not bothered by the ongoing political romance between the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, and the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP). It could be recalled that the former governor, who is still a chieftain of APC, held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the SDP and some allies of…

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has called for transformative, high-impact investments in infrastructure, agriculture, rail, and energy. Speaking at the Islamic Development Bank Governors’ (IsDB Group) Retreat in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia, Edun emphasised the need for innovative and sustainable financing strategies. In a statement posted on the ministry’s X page today, Edun urged the IsDB to prioritize investments with strong returns to ensure…

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, has expressed optimism that the Federal Government will meet its N36.35 trillion revenue projection for 2025.   Speaking during a National Assembly Joint Committee hearing on the 2025 Appropriation Bill, Bagudu attributed his confidence to the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he said are already yielding positive results.   He highlighted the impact of removing fuel and foreign exchange…

The Federal Government (FG) has announced it is set to unveil a youth farmers enrollment portal as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and boost economic engagement among young Nigerians. The announcement followed a meeting between the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and a delegation from the Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalisation Programme (NIYEEDEP).   The delegation, led by NIYEEDEP National Coordinator, Kennedy Iyere, included representatives from the American…

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged Christian pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land to use the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and return as carriers of His presence. The governor made the call during the farewell ceremony for the pilgrims in Jos, where he emphasised the transformative potential of the journey.   “This pilgrimage is more than just a journey; it is an opportunity for a life-changing encounter…

The Federal Government (FG) has acknowledged that national grid collapses will continue due to its inability to repair a critical transmission line in northern Nigeria, citing persistent insecurity as a major barrier.   Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this during the 2025 budget defence session with the Senate Joint Committee on Power. He identified the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, which has been out of service since a vandalism incident in…

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has scheduled full hearings for Wednesday, January 15, 2025, on the petition filed by Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The petition challenges the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.   The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Farouk Adamu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning…