The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), condemning the actions of its officers and calling for immediate accountability. The Chief Magistrate Court in Potiskum, Yobe State, was the scene of an alarming incident on October 29, 2024, when armed police officers stormed the courtroom, disrupting proceedings and forcibly removing two convicted individuals in open defiance of a lawful court order. This act, described by many as a blatant assault on Nigeria’s justice system, has sparked widespread outrage. CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, recounted the chaotic scene that left court officials, lawyers, and…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Met Office has issued urgent yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, spanning 42 hours across a three-day period. The alerts affect parts of Scotland and northern England, with potential travel disruptions and safety hazards expected. Timeline of Alerts Sunday: The first warning begins at 4pm, covering northern Scotland, and continues until 11am on Monday. Monday to Tuesday: A new alert starts at 10am Monday for northern England and southern Scotland, lasting 24 hours until 10am Tuesday. A second warning for Scotland reactivates at 4pm Monday, ending at 10am Tuesday. Met Office predictions ALSO READ [EXPLAINER] What is climate…
The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank, has updated its land compensation framework, significantly increasing rates for matured cocoa, mango, and cashew trees in Nigeria’s North Central Zone. Under the revised policy, matured cocoa trees are valued at ₦160,000 each, translating to ₦160 million per hectare. The new framework also sets the value of matured mango trees at ₦105,000 each or ₦13 million per hectare, while matured cashew trees are now valued at ₦45,000 each or ₦5.5 million per hectare. Bridging an 18-year gap in compensation policy The announcement was made by the Minister of Housing and Urban…
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $2.2 billion financing programme to bolster Nigeria’s external borrowing strategy, aimed at meeting the government’s financial needs and driving economic recovery efforts. The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, after the FEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. Funding breakdown: Eurobonds and Sukuk Bonds The financing plan includes raising funds from the international capital market through a combination of Eurobonds and Sukuk bonds. According to Edun, the proposal outlines issuing approximately $1.7 billion in Eurobonds and $500 million in Sukuk financing. “The…
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on Thursday, presented the N936 billion 2025 Appropriation Bill, to the State House of Assembly. Titled “Fiscal Consolidation,” the bill focuses on transforming core sectors like road infrastructure, healthcare, education, water resources, and agriculture. If the budget, 62.75% (N587.4 billion) is allocated to capital expenditure and 37.25% (N348.7 billion) to recurrent expenses, aimed at promoting inclusivity, accountability, and citizen participation in governance. “This budget invests in our people, infrastructure, and well-being,” Governor Oborevwori stated, urging Deltans to unite in realizing this vision for a prosperous and inclusive Delta State.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for transparency and adherence to legal standards in appointing a transaction adviser for the revitalisation of Ajaokuta Steel Complex Limited (ASCL). Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, emphasized the need for transparency in a statement issued in Abuja. He disclosed that CISLAC has formally written to the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), urging due diligence and transparency in the ASCL revitalisation process and the procurement of the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Itakpe. Rafsanjani expressed concerns about possible irregularities in the procurement…
Some of Nigeria’s most influential figures and thought leaders have pledged their participation in the headline panel discussion on social enterprise and national development at the Megastar Man of the Decade Awards 2024, positioning this ceremony as a momentous event in the country’s awards history. The star-studded event, scheduled for December 1, 2024, at the prestigious Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Abuja, will feature a high-level panel discussion themed “Social Enterprise: A Catalyst for Development in Nigeria.” This session brings together an impressive array of thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts. Some distinguished confirmed panellists include Senator Adams Aliyu…
In 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, then-President Donald Trump rattled the global health community with his announcement to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). Citing alleged bias in WHO’s handling of the pandemic’s early days, Trump’s decision, if finalized, would have marked an unprecedented break from the world’s primary health agency. However, his successor, President Joe Biden, quickly reversed the decision upon taking office in 2021. Now, as Trump prepares for a possible return to the White House in 2025, scientists and global health experts worry about another potential exit from WHO—and its…
A violent confrontation broke out early this morning around 6:00 a.m. as the Nigerian army and residents of Gatawa engaged in intense clashes with the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji and his heavily armed fighters. The fierce gun battle is ongoing near Bakin Gulbi, close to Tungar Yakuba in Sokoto state, and has involved heavy artillery fire from both sides. Local sources report that the conflict erupted after Turji held a secret meeting in Dan Tasakko village, close to Gatawa, shortly after sunset on Monday. This clandestine gathering reportedly involved key members of Turji’s network, raising alarms among residents and…
ASHENEWS reports that the Niger State Government has established a transition committee to oversee the handover of the upgraded Alawa Game Reserve to the Nigeria National Park Service. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago inaugurated the committee during a State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Minna. Describing the event as historic, Governor Bago emphasized the importance of conservation and environmental protection for both human well-being and ecological balance. He highlighted Niger State’s leadership in environmental initiatives, noting it was the first sub-national government to organize the Green Initiative Summit and establish an agency dedicated to climate action. The…