Author: Akintayo Adams

A draft UN resolution calling for an “immediate and durable ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war has been circulated by the United States amid the famine in besieged Gaza. Previous Security Council texts using the word “immediate” has been blocked by Washington, however, Blinken, the secretary of state confirmed a shift in position on Wednesday (Yesterday). Blinken, who is due to meet five Arab foreign ministers in Egypt on Thursday (Today), emphasized any immediate truce must be related to the release of hostages snatched by Palestinian militants during the October 7 attack that set off the war. The Israeli bombardment of…

An agreement for the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of the National Bank of Kenya has been reached between Access Holdings and Kenyan-based KCB Group Plc. The deal will see Access Holdings’ acquire Kenyan national bank totally from KCB which doubles as the holding company of KCB Bank Ltd, Kenya’s largest commercial bank. Access Holdings’ Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, in a statement filed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Wednesday, said the transaction is a testament to the Bank’s African expansion strategy and will place it as a stronger and significant player in the Kenyan market whilst serving as…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed a ban on all public-fund sponsored foreign travels by ministers and other government officials, This was revealed in a directive via a letter by his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. In the letter, dated 12 March 2024, President Tinubu ordered an official ban on all foreign trips. However, according to the letter, “trips deemed absolutely necessary” might be exempted. In the letter, the President bemoaned the rising cost of foreign trips embarked upon by government officials amid Nigeria’s current…

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, yesterday, revealed how a private firm has refused to release ₦32bn paid into its account in 2003 for the supply of three million prepaid metres. This was disclosed through a statement Bolaji Tunji, the minister’s Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, on Wednesday. In 2003, the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration entered a tripartite agreement with Messrs Ziklagsis Network Limited and Unistar International for the supply of three million meters to distribution companies in the country, for a period of three years. To get the ball rolling, a ₦32bn metering loan was released to Messrs Ziklagsis.…

On Wednesday, the Federal Government of Nigeria met with the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions. The meeting ended with no positive outcome. On Monday, SSANU and NASU began a seven-day warning strike to demand their four months’ salaries approved for payment but withheld since 2021 when they embarked on a prolonged strike. Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, The National President, JAC of SSANU, NASU disclosed that the unions met with the two Ministers of Education, the permanent secretary, and other directors, but the meeting did not produce the…

A Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu and 14 others have been named by the Federal Government of Nigeria as Sponsors of Terrorism in the country. Mamu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since September 2022. This was disclosed in a statement released by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on Tuesday which revealed that the financiers include nine individuals and six Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and firms. It was stated that Mamu participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments over the sum of $200,000 in support of ISWAP terrorists…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday appealed to Members of the National Assembly to allow heads of ministries, departments, and agencies before parliamentary committees to get the job done instead of distracting them with frequent summons. He spoke at the breaking of Ramadan fast on Wednesday in Abuja with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the Green Chamber. Maintaining transparency and accountability in governance, oversight is essential, according to the President. However, he bemoaned the excessive summoning of officials which, according to him can disrupt operations and thwart service delivery to citizens. ”I…

One of the committee rooms of the Nigerian Senate is to be named after the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun. This was resolved on Wednesday during plenary, and it was a result of a motion sponsored to that effect by Senator Sharafadeen Ali (APC Oyo South). “The late Olubadan was a man of peace and custodian of the culture and values of the Yoruba people,” Ali said. Yinus Akintunde (Oyo Central) and Addulfai Buhari (Oyo North), also did not fail to contribute to the debate on the motion by informing the Senate on how the late monarch impacted…

The Student Loans Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024 has been passed by the Nigerian Senate. This followed the consideration of a report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), presented by the Chairman who is also the senator epresenting Katsina South, Sen. Mohammed Muntari. A week ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wrote to the Senate and the House of Representatives, seeking the repeal of the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Bill, and to enact a new one. The new act, according to the President will enhance the implementation of…

On Monday, the Abia State House of Assembly passed into law, H.A.B 11: A Bill for a ‘Law to Repeal The Abia State Governors & Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters Connected Therewith’. The bill was sponsored by Okoro Uchenna Kalu, the House Majority Leader and member representing Arochukwu State Constituency. The passage of the bill followed its first and second readings, the consideration by the committee of the whole before its 3rd reading during Tuesday’s plenary. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa announced the passage of the bill, and saidit would…