Prominent journalist and rights activist, Agba Jalingo, has accused Nigerian authorities of using the Cybercrime Act as a tool of oppression against journalists and critics rather than targeting actual cybercriminals. Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, Jalingo said the law, especially Section 24, has become the government’s preferred weapon for clamping down on free speech. “The Cybercrime Act was enacted mainly to deal with journalists and dissenters on social media. Section 24 is what they are using to run after us everywhere,” he stated. Jalingo disclosed that under the current Inspector General of Police, more than 751 persons were arrested last…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given the green light for the listing of Eko Rice Classic Spot Contracts worth ₦23.4 billion on the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE). The approval was announced at a pre-launch event that brought together regulators, investors, and key players across Nigeria’s agricultural and commodities value chains. Speaking at the event, LCFE’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Akeredolu-Ale, described the development as a milestone for the nation’s commodities market. He said the listing would help build a more transparent and structured platform that aligns agriculture with capital markets. “The pre-launch is…
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a minor reshuffle in its workforce, saying the move is aimed at eliminating redundancy and repositioning the Commission for more effective service delivery. The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Commission’s Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations Officer, Fatima Usara. According to her, the decision followed resolutions reached at the Board’s 14th sitting held between August 26 and 27, 2025. “In line with the Board’s resolve, the Commission’s executive arm has effected the reposting of pool officers back to their respective Ministries, Departments and…
Flood has forced the closure of a 40-year-old Friday Mosque in the Layi Quarters of Kankia, Katsina State, after its foundation was severely damaged. The Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’kamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Kankia announced that the mosque, which has served worshippers since the mid-1980s, became unsafe when the flood penetrated beneath its structure. Sheikh Khalil Kasim confirmed that Friday prayers would now hold at Masjid Ibn Taymiyya in Gurara, a mosque normally used for daily congregational prayers. JIBWIS Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Bature, explained that structural engineers had inspected the building and advised that it should no longer be used, warning…
The Federal Government has filed terrorism charges against two senior commanders of the extremist group, Ansaru, following their capture by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The suspects, identified as Abu Bara’a and Mahmuda, were arrested in a covert operation after years of surveillance and intelligence gathering. Both men are considered high-value targets within Ansaru’s hierarchy and are believed to have played key roles in planning and directing violent operations across parts of northern Nigeria. According to reliable security sources, the government has pressed multiple charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, including directing acts of terrorism,…
Yusuf noted that Kano accommodates people from all parts of Nigeria, including Rivers State, without discrimination. “This is the spirit of national brotherhood that strengthens our unity.”
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD Nigeria) has taken a firm stand against the Federal Government’s proposed 5% surcharge on petroleum and diesel products, describing it as “anti-people, economically insensitive, and a recipe for deeper hardship.” In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the group warned that the move—currently being considered by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)—would hit Nigerians at a time they can least afford it. “After the painful removal of fuel subsidy, citizens are already reeling from skyrocketing transport fares, unaffordable food…
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening equity, inclusiveness, and accountability in governance, calling for deeper collaboration with civil society organizations to ensure fairness at all levels of the Nigeria national life. Speaking during an advocacy visit by members of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) to the Commission’s headquarters, the Chairman of FCC described the engagement as timely, noting that civil society remains a crucial partner in the implementation of the federal character principle. He explained that the FCC, established under Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution and the FCC Act of…
Abuja, Sept. 3, 2025 — The Federal Government has validated Nigeria’s Economic Appraisal Report, a major step toward developing the country’s Adaptation Finance Strategy and drafting the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). For years, climate action in Nigeria and globally has focused more on mitigation, often leaving adaptation underexplored. While mitigation remains essential, experts at the Abuja workshop emphasized that adaptation has now become an urgent priority for Nigeria’s climate response. Officials noted that even as the nation grapples with multiple climate-related challenges, there are also opportunities within the crisis that can be harnessed to build a sustainable and resilient future.…
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has said that political interference and restrictions from security agencies are frustrating his efforts to end the decade-long banditry crisis in the state. Speaking during a media briefing, Lawal stressed that if given the authority to fully command security operations, he could end the menace within two weeks. “I know where the bandits are, where they go, and where they come from. I monitor them through advanced surveillance technology that I can access even on my phone. But I cannot act because I don’t have the power to command security personnel. If I had…