In a dramatic return to the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday made bold moves to dismantle key policies of the Biden administration, signing several executive orders just hours after his swearing-in as the 47th President of the United States. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Trump announced the revocation of “nearly 80 destructive radical executive actions” enacted by his predecessor, Joe Biden. “I’m revoking nearly 80 destructive radical executive actions of the previous administration,” Trump declared to the crowd during the signing ceremony. Among the policies targeted, the president specifically highlighted…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
In a controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has pardoned several individuals convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. The announcement came shortly after his inauguration, signaling a significant early decision in his second term. The exact number of individuals pardoned and the specific charges they were convicted of remain unclear, as details of the pardons were not immediately released. However, Trump’s Vice President, J.D. Vance, and other close allies had previously assured the public that no one involved in acts of violence would benefit from the pardons. The pardons have…
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has vowed to challenge the Federal Government’s approval for a 50% increase in telecom tariffs, arguing that the decision is burdensome for subscribers and was made without adequate consultation. Speaking in Lagos on Monday, NATCOMS President, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, expressed dissatisfaction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for not involving the association in the decision-making process. Ogunbanjo explained that NATCOMS had previously suggested a moderate 5% to 10% increase to address the financial challenges faced by the telecom industry. “This 50% tariff hike will affect everyone, from major industries to the smallest businesses…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a 50% tariff adjustment for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in response to rising operational costs in the telecommunications industry. As a reason, Dr. Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, in a statement on Monday, said the decision was in line with the commission’s regulatory powers under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA). Dr. Muoka explained that the adjustment, capped at a maximum of 50%, is significantly lower than the over 100% increase requested by some operators. “This adjustment remains within the tariff bands stipulated in the 2013 NCC Cost…
The West Africa LPG Expo 2025 is set to gather global and regional energy leaders in Lagos this March to accelerate the region’s clean energy transition. In a statement on Monday, Mr. Jeffrey Leung, Director of the LPG Expo, described the event as a landmark gathering aimed at promoting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a cornerstone of sustainable energy in West Africa. Leung emphasized the expo’s role as the leading platform for advancing LPG as a cleaner alternative to traditional energy sources. “This year’s event aims to expand the number of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) to one million by 2026,…
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced plans to restore bloody cockles in Ogoni creeks to alleviate the environmental and economic challenges faced by the local communities. In a statement on Monday in Abuja, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, highlighted the initiative, which follows his recent visit to the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area. The institute is currently conducting research funded by HYPREP on the culturing of bloody cockles (Senilla senilis). Vital role of bloody cockles Bloody cockles, a species of bivalve mollusks found in muddy intertidal zones, are critical…
The Dangote Refinery has refuted allegations of arbitrarily increasing petrol pump prices, attributing recent adjustments in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to fluctuations in global crude oil prices. In a press release titled “Increase in Pump Price Not From Us,” issued on Sunday by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer, the refinery emphasized its commitment to transparency and consumer affordability. “The recent adjustment in our ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) is directly related to the significant increase in global crude oil prices,” the statement explained. It clarified that while the ex-depot price rose…
The legal counsel to Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, appeared at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday to protest the handling of the N12.3 billion fraud charges filed against his client. Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), representing Otudeko and two co-defendants, informed the court that the defendants had not been formally served with the 13-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the court. “We are here in protest because the charge has not been served on my client and the other defendants,” Olanipekun stated. The defendants include Otudeko; former Managing Director of First…
A coalition of 73 civil society organizations (CSOs) has strongly condemned allegations made by an unnamed former Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Nigerian Air Force, as reported in Vanguard Newspapers on January 16, 2025. The inflammatory claims, accusing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria’s North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions of aiding terrorism, have been described as baseless and harmful to efforts to combat insecurity. The article, titled “Why Boko Haram, Bandits Thrive: How NGOs, Others Aid Terrorists — Former Generals, Commanders,” accused NGOs of providing covert sponsorship to terrorists. However, the CSOs have refuted these claims, labeling them as an…
“This is a clear example of the mischievous and cruel sport of tarnishing the image of the lady through a bouquet of consistent, persistent and unrelenting cocktail of falsehoods and misinformation. The purveyors of this line of misinformation term it “name-and-shame”. To sell the storyline, the architects ensured they attached Diezani’s name to a recovered yacht which is not in any way linked to her.