President Bola Tinubu will officially flag off the Abuja Light Rail, also known as the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System, on Democracy Day, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration confirmed that the ceremony will commence at 1:00 p.m. Originally scheduled for May 27, 2024, the flag-off was rescheduled to coincide with the celebrations marking the first year anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration. Gbenga Ogunleye, the Director of Press in the Office of the FCT Minister, announced the new date in a recent statement. The commencement of commercial operations of the Abuja Light Rail is…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Nigerian government has raised the enrolment quota for medical, nursing, and other health professional schools from 28,000 to 64,000 annually. This announcement was made by Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, during a sectoral ministerial press briefing marking the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The increase comes as a response to the growing concern over the exodus of health workers, driven by factors such as inadequate equipment, worsening insecurity, poor working conditions, and a subpar salary structure. The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria reported that 1,056 consultants left…
The Trump campaign has urgently called upon the U.S. Secret Service to address what they describe as a “critical flaw” in the security planning for the upcoming Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee. The convention, set to take place from July 15-18, will draw over 50,000 attendees, including high-profile GOP figures. The Trump campaign’s main contention centers on the current security perimeter, which requires pedestrians to traverse Pere Marquette Park—a potential flashpoint as protesters plan to converge there. In a letter to Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle, Todd Steggerda, counsel to the Republican National Committee, emphasized the urgency of extending…
Ambassador Robert Scott, the deputy commander for civil-military engagement at U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), embarked on a tour across Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles from May 11 to May 18, 2024. During his visit, Ambassador Scott engaged in high-level discussions with government officials in the three nations, emphasizing collaborative efforts to tackle maritime security challenges plaguing the West Indian Ocean region. These discussions underscored the importance of regional stability and security, crucial for both African nations and their international partners, particularly in the face of escalating maritime threats. In Port Louis, Mauritius, Ambassador Scott met with key dignitaries including Minister of…
In a recent briefing, Minister of Steel Development Shuaibu Audu shed light on the ongoing challenges facing the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, explaining why the production has not yet commenced despite its near-completion status in 1994. Speaking at the Ministerial Sectoral Updates in Abuja, part of the activities marking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s one year in office, Audu stated the difficulty in securing a technical partner whose terms align with the interests of Nigerians. The briefing was attended by prominent figures including the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Minister of Youth…
Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area in Rivers State, has declared his refusal to vacate office on June 16, the scheduled end of his tenure. This defiance comes despite directives from the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, demanding that he step down. In a viral video released on Thursday, Nwanosike directly challenged Governor Fubara, stating his intention to remain in office. He justified his stance by citing a tenure extension granted by state lawmakers under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule. The extension, he claims, is due to the state government’s failure to conduct local government elections. “Let…
The Nigerian Exchange sustained its bearish trend on Thursday, losing N84 billion in market value, driven by declines in Skyway Aviation Handling and NEM Insurance stocks. The All-Share Index dropped by 0.15% to close at 97,978.02 basis points, while market capitalisation also decreased by 0.15% to N55.424 trillion. The market’s downturn was marked by a higher number of decliners (28) compared to gainers (17). This follows N89 billion loss on Wednesday, as investors reacted to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to hike the benchmark interest rate. Among the significant losers, Skyway Aviation Handling experienced a steep…
The Rivers State leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has renewed its efforts to persuade the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to join its ranks. During a one-million-man solidarity march for Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ in Port Harcourt, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, emphasized Wike’s significant influence in Rivers State politics. Okocha stated Wike’s political acumen and referred to him as a “political strategist who cannot be ignored,” noting his instrumental role in Tinubu’s success in the 2023 elections within the state. “Wike is the leader of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ in Rivers State. He…
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobri, has announced a boost in the country’s oil and gas sector, attributing it to the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). In a recent briefing in Abuja marking the one-year anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration, Lokpobri disclosed that the PIA had already started yielding positive results by attracting a staggering $16.6 billion in deepwater offshore investments. Lokpobri stated that Nigeria’s pro-business policies over the past year had restored investors’ confidence, effectively removing obstacles that previously hindered investment in the sector. He highlighted key factors contributing to this surge in investment, including…
Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, were granted bail on Thursday by Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The bail, set at N100 million Naira each, comes with the condition that one of the sureties must own a landed property in the Federal Capital Territory of equal value. Additionally, the defendants are prohibited from traveling outside Nigeria without court permission. Justice Belgore’s decision to grant bail followed closely the conditions set by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, also of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The judge noted, “I see no…
Israeli forces thrust deeper into Jabalia in northern Gaza on Tuesday, striking a hospital and destroying residential areas with tank and air bombardments, residents said, while Israeli airstrikes killed at least five people in Rafah in the south. Simultaneous Israeli assaults on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip this month have caused a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing their homes, and sharply restricted the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine. In Jabalia, a sprawling refugee camp built for displaced civilians 75 years ago, the Israeli army used bulldozers to clear shops…
President Bola Tinubu has directed a thorough review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria following significant public outcry. The directive was conveyed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement from the State House titled “President Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Review of Governing Boards of Tertiary Institutions.” The initial appointments included 555 individuals designated as Pro-Chancellors/Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. These appointments, which were approved by President Tinubu based on recommendations from the Ministry of Education, sparked controversy due…