Dangote Cement Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community welfare through sustained social investment programmes across its host communities in Nigeria and other African countries. The Head of Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant, Mr. Ayyagari Subbaraidu, made this known when the plant hosted elders and persons with disabilities from its 17 host communities during an outreach tagged “A Day Out with Senior Citizens” at the Ibese facility in Ogun State. He said the initiative—now in its third year—aims to enhance the emotional, social and physical well-being of elderly residents, many of whom face loneliness and limited social interaction. The programme…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Lagos State indigenes under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, have kicked against decision by the Lagos State Government to outsource the indigeneship certification process to a little-known firm, it named as Qista Technologies. Describing the act as ‘capture of Lagos State Identity’, the Group says it is a quiet decision by the state government that must be strictly scrutinised and immediately reversed. In a statement titled “The capture of Lagos identity by an inactive sole proprietorship concern,” the indigenous Lagos State socio-cultural Group said what appears on the surface as “digitization” “is the most far-reaching attempt yet…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded the names of three non-career ambassador-nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation. The ambassador-nominees are Kayode Aare (Osun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo). Their names were contained in a formal communication from the President, which was read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary. Akpabio subsequently referred the nominations to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and directed the panel to scrutinise the candidates and report back within one week. The development comes against the backdrop of President Tinubu’s slow pace in filling key diplomatic postings.…
An investigator with the State Security Service (SSS) on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that terrorist kingpin, Shugaba, offered Tukur Mamu a N50 million cut from ransom payments linked to the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train attack. The SSS operative, who testified as the sixth prosecution witness in Mamu’s terrorism trial, gave his evidence behind a shield for security reasons. He was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe. According to the witness, the terrorist group also asked Mamu to teach them how to create a website for their operations. This emerged from four voice notes played…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive security cordon around forests in Kwara, Kebbi, and parts of Niger State following recent kidnappings and increased terrorist activities in the affected areas. The directive was disclosed on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in a post on his verified X handle. According to Dare, the President instructed the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to intensify and expand air surveillance across the deepest parts of forests in Kwara, where criminal groups are believed to be hiding. “The President has ordered the Nigerian Air Force…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has decided to leave its monetary policy rate (MPR) unchanged at 27 percent, Governor Olayemi Cardoso announced today at a press conference in Abuja following the bank’s 303rd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The MPC emphasised that the unchanged rate underlines the bank’s insistence on maintaining a tight monetary policy stance. In tandem with the decision, the committee maintained a cash reserve ratio (CRR) of 45 percent for commercial banks, 16 percent for merchant banks and 75 percent on non-TSA public sector deposits. The liquidity ratio remained at 30 percent, and the…
Fresh controversy has erupted on social media over the academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) records of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following renewed public scrutiny and heated exchanges among supporters and critics. The dispute resurfaced after a supporter of the minister, Omolere Festus Dayo, circulated a lengthy defense titled “Facts Over Falsehood: Setting the Record Straight on Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo Academic and NYSC Records.” The statement sought to counter what he described as “deliberate misinformation” regarding the minister’s educational background and NYSC participation. Supporter Defends Minister’s Credentials In his post, Dayo insisted that Tunji-Ojo’s academic…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, ordering that they be redeployed to core policing duties. The directive was issued on Sunday during a high-level security meeting the President held in Abuja with the service chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS). Under the new arrangement, VIPs seeking official protection will now be required to request armed security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than the police. The move comes amid concerns over inadequate police presence in many…
Fifty students who were earlier feared abducted in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State, have safely returned to their homes, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed. The individuals, mostly students of St. Mary’s School, Papiri, had fled into the bush following an attack by suspected bandits earlier this week. According to the Diocese, all 50 persons listed have reunited with their families as of 23rd November 2025. In a document issued and signed by Rev. Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph, the Diocesan Secretary, the Church provided the complete names of those who returned, assuring the public…
Bandits who kidnapped worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded an alarming N3.5 billion — translating to ₦100 million for each victim. Pastor Lawrence Bamidele, who leads the church, confirmed that between 30 and 35 members were seized during Tuesday evening’s violent attack. Family members and community leaders said on Thursday that the kidnappers had started contacting relatives using the victims’ phones. Josiah Agbabiaka, secretary of the church, revealed that the abductors divided the victims into groups and that the first batch of 11 people had each been…