Author: Akintayo Adams

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo said private illegal aircraft operators are immersed in hard drug transportation as well as money laundering in the country. Keyamo disclosed this at a management meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where he expressed readiness to tackle the perpetrators headlong without any form of shyness. “It has come to my attention, through a series of disturbing reports, that the practice of illegal charter operations is thriving within the aviation industry, thereby undermining the efforts of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other regulatory bodies,” he said. “These illicit activities have not only…

Prior to the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Democrats advised President Joe Biden to “be yourself.” This sentiment was echoed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate candidate Lisa Blunt Rochester from Biden’s home state of Delaware, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who remarked to The Independent that people should consider what former president Donald Trump needed to do to appear “barely cogent.” However, Democrats became concerned after Biden’s performance on Thursday evening in Atlanta. Throughout the night, Biden frequently interrupted himself, his voice sounding hoarse and strained. This served as a stark reminder that Democrats had nominated not only the…

VFD Group Plc announced plans to raise ₦30 billion in additional capital through various instruments, including share issuance, global depository receipts, commercial papers, loans, convertible and non-convertible instruments, medium-term notes, and bonds. Company Secretary Gbeminiyi Shoda revealed this at the annual general meeting held in Lagos State on Thursday, stating that the initiative aims to strengthen the company’s financial base and support its growth plans. “That directors be and are hereby authorised to raise additional capital of up to N30bn through an offer by way of issuance of shares, global depository receipts, commercial papers, loans, convertibles, or non-convertibles. medium-term notes,…

The Southern Governors Forum is seeking to allow states negotiate minimum wage for workers independently. The forum, at the end of a meeting held on Monday at the Ogun State Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, resolved that wages should be reflective of the cost of living. This was disclosed in a communiqué from the meeting, signed by the newly appointed Chairman of the Forum, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, and Vice Chairman, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra. The meeting was attended by Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Douye Diri (Bayelsa),…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the National Construction and Household Support Programme. He made the declaration during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja. According to a statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, the program aims to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy, and provide immediate economic relief for Nigerian households. Supported by the National Economic Council (NEC), the program includes financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geo-political zones in the country. A key component is the approval of a ₦50,000 uplift grant, to be distributed to 100,000 families per state for three months. Ngelale revealed that…

The Nigerian Defence Academy announced on Wednesday via X.com that Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has promoted Second Lieutenant Oluchukwu Owowoh to the substantive rank of Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army. “Speaking during the decoration ceremony that took place today, June 26, 2024, at the Nigerian Defence Academy Officer’s Mess and Golf Club, the NDA Commandant, Major General JO Ochai, extolled the track record of excellence of Lt. Owowoh as a cadet, which accorded her the rare privilege of becoming the first female Nigerian to be trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as well as…

President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio said the upper chamber will consider the request for a new presidential jet if it becomes necessary. He stated that the 10th National Assembly would not allow Nigeria to experience incidents similar to the plane crashes that resulted in the deaths of the Iran President and the Vice President of Malawi due to issues with faulty presidential jets. However, he clarified that there had been no request for approval of a presidential jet before the lawmakers. Meanwhile, Akpabio noted that no anticipated blackmail can stop the Senate from approving the purchase for the…

In response to a viral video depicting two officers manhandling a female hotel worker in Lagos, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has directed their immediate arrest and initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident. This information was communicated through a statement released by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, on Thursday. According to the statement from the EFCC, the officers were conducting a sting operation at Regional Hotel in Ojo, Lagos, which led to multiple arrests. “The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered…

Residents of Jakande Housing Estate in Lekki, located in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, urgently appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene and prevent potential fatalities caused by frequent flooding in their community. They voiced their concerns about the looming threat of floods as the rainy season reaches its peak. They highlighted that the area consistently faces flooding each year during this period. One of the residents, Alhaja Fausat Olawale, called on the governor to save the people from untimely death. “We cannot sleep with our two eyes closed whenever there is rain at night. We call…

The House of Representatives on Thursday granted a request before it by President Bola Tinubu to extend the capital component of the 2023 Appropriation Act and the Supplementary Appropriation Act until 31 December. Tinubu’s request was granted after the House entered a closed-door session amid opposition from some lawmakers. Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, had read a letter containing Tinubu’s request to the lawmakers during the plenary session. During Tajudeen’s reading of the letter, Tinubu mentioned that extending the duration would enable his administration to fully execute both the N21.8 trillion 2023 Budget and the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget. Concurrently, the…