Author: Akintayo Adams

Strong reactions and comments have followed the act of bandits seen in viral videos displaying cash supposedly collected from victims. They were attached to a series of post on X by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst. He noted that the user of the social network account has over 3000 followers and that some of them are bandits who openly show off their rifles while dressed in military or police uniforms. “Audacity: Bandit on Tiktok flaunting and showing off ransom money he collected from his victims”, he wrote. “The user of the account has 3000 followers, some of…

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the construction of 28 roads and bridges across the country for the total sum of over ₦1.2 trillion. This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, after the FEC meeting held on Monday. The projects were approved by FEC having gone through the Bureau of Public Procurement and Certificates of No Objection secured, according to him. Approval was given for construction of 91.432km road at Saki in Oyo State at the sum of ₦144 billion, and the construction of Buruku bridge across Katsina Ala River in Benue State at a little…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a circular to Bureau De Change operators (BDCs) across the country informing them that it has sold $10,000 to each BDC at a rate of ₦1,251/$1. It is estimated that over $15 million might have been sold into the retail end of the market as there are about 1500 BDCs licenses left. The bank earlier resumed the sales of dollar to BDC operators after a prolonged period of suspension, dating back to 2021. The ban was lifted following the revocation of licences of over 4173 BDC operators in February out of an estimated…

Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum has approved the release of the sum of ₦1billion to train teachers across the 27 Local Government Areas in the state. This was revealed at the inauguration of the newly appointed 27 educational secretaries for the local government education authorities in the state on Tuesday (Today). The Governor said the training will include one thousand teachers identified to have ‘O’ level certificates, and those without certificates but have the requisite experiences. According to him, the secretaries were selected following the 2019 review of the state government’s compulsory education law 2005. The law doesn’t…

The Federal Government says it will establish a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) park at the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi. This was made known by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, on Monday in Abuja. President Bola Tinubu had approved the establishment of the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) on Aug.18, 2023, as part of his palliative intervention targeted at cushioning the difficulties faced by Nigerians due to the removal of fuel subsidy. The CNG is mainly composed of methane and primarily used as a substitute fuel for…

On Monday, Nottingham Forest lodged an appeal against the four-point deduction imposed upon them for a breach of Premier League financial rules. Earlier in March, they had four-point deducted from their total for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. “Nottingham Forest can confirm that it has today lodged an appeal against the four point sanction imposed by the Commission in relation to the Club’s breach of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules,” the club said in a brief statement on its website. “The club will not be making any further statement at this time.” Reacting to their…

The ascension process of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin will start today Tuesday, March 26. Erstwhile Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, who reigned for two years, joined his ancestors at the age of 81 recently at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, after a brief illness. The statutory kingmakers and members of the Olubadan-in-Council -Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; the Osi Olubadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole; the Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; the Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Adebayo Akande; the Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; the Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Adebimpe; the…

A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Paul Akintelure, is dead. He had earlier raised alarms over direct and indirect threats to his life. “Initially, I hope these incidents would dissipate over time, yet regrettably, they have escalated to pose a serious threat to my life,” he said on the 21st of March. “The threats against me only strengthen my resolve to stand up for what is right and just. I will not allow fear to dictate our path forward. “Let us embrace peace, progress, and unity. Our collective strength lies in…

Edo State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Dr. Tony Azegbemi, has been released by his abductors after spending the last eleven days in captivity. He was said to have arrived his residence at about 3am. The news of his release was broken by Senator Odion Ugbesia in the early hours of today It is yet to be ascertained whether ransom was paid or not before he was released. The kidnappers were said to have demanded the sum of ₦500 million, as revealed by a member of his family. Azeigbeme was kidnapped on the 15th of March few metres…

Barely 24hrs after the decision of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to raise the 2024 hajj fare by ₦1.9 million, many individuals who intend to perform the 2024 Hajj besieged their respective state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to demand a refund of their deposits. NAHCON had released a statement on Sunday increasing the fare for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by ₦1,918,032.91 while setting a deadline of March 28, 2024. It had in December 2023 fixed a fare of ₦4.9 million per pilgrim based on an exchange rate of ₦897 to a dollar. However, the current exchange…