Despite the deployment of thousands of security personnel for the local government elections in Ibadan, residents have defied movement restrictions as security agents were conspicuously absent from the streets, leaving major areas of the city unmonitored. The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State had announced the deployment of 12,000 security personnel, including 8,000 policemen and 2,125 from other agencies, for the elections. However, on the morning of the elections, no security agents were sighted from General Gas to Dugbe and other major areas within the metropolis. Reports from the ground indicate that people and vehicles were moving freely within…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, has lauded the United States for its condemnation of the Nigerian government’s handling of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader’s detention. The accolade comes following the release of the “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria,” where the US government criticized Nigeria for violating Kanu’s human rights during his arrest and extradition. Ejimakor expressed appreciation for what he termed “a demonstration of diplomatic courage” by the US in acknowledging the unlawful treatment of Kanu by Nigeria’s secret police. The report stated that Kanu was subjected to “arbitrary arrest”…
China has emerged as the predominant global power in Africa, surpassing the United States, according to the latest Gallup report. The report highlights China’s remarkable rise, with its approval ratings in Africa soaring by six percentage points in just one year, reaching an impressive 58% in 2023. This places China two points ahead of the USA. China’s surge in approval ratings is attributed to its robust investments and strategic initiatives in Africa, notably through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). With bilateral trade hitting a record $282.1 billion in 2023, China has solidified its position as Africa’s largest trading partner,…
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) under the leadership of Managing Director Umar Farouk is making significant strides in addressing long standing infrastructure deficiencies and manpower shortages within the country’s aviation sector. Addressing the issue of communication, Farouk stated the past challenges where airlines avoided Nigerian airspace due to difficulties in communicating with air traffic controllers. To remedy this, the agency has undergone a comprehensive redesign of its communication structure, ensuring seamless coverage across the nation’s airspace. This includes increased station deployment and the implementation of backup systems to mitigate any potential failures. The issue of unreliable electricity supply…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 34 suspected currency speculators in Abuja. The operation, conducted by EFCC operatives from the Taskforce on Currency Mutilation, Dollarization of the Economy, and Forex Malpractice, targeted individuals allegedly involved in fraudulent foreign exchange activities. The arrests, which took place in the Wuse Zone 4 area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were the result of actionable intelligence gathered by the EFCC. According to Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, the suspects were identified as Usman Mohammed, Abdullahi Nasir, Abubakar Saleh, and several others. The EFCC emphasized its commitment…
A recent complaint lodged with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) has ignited a controversy surrounding the Trump campaign’s financial practices. The complaint alleges that the campaign, along with four related political committees, may have violated federal law by concealing payments for a significant portion of former President Donald Trump’s legal expenses. According to the complaint, between December 7, 2022, and March 18, 2024, the Trump campaign and its associated committees reimbursed compliance firm Red Curve Solutions $7.2 million for legal fees and expenses. However, CLC notes that Red Curve Solutions does not appear to…
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has proposed reforms, including the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) as the head of the National Judicial Council (NJC). The NBA, representing legal practitioners nationwide, criticized the current composition of the NJC, which oversees the discipline of judicial officers, citing concerns about its ability to impartially address misconduct within the judiciary. Under the NBA’s recommendations, the composition of the NJC would undergo a restructuring. Instead of being solely chaired by the CJN, the council would consist of six judicial officers appointed by the CJN, six lawyers nominated by the NBA’s National Executive…
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has sealed many unregistered bakeries for operating without the agency’s approval in Plateau. In a statement on Friday, the Director North Central Zone, Mr Shaba Mohammed, also said that various water-packaging companies were sealed for producing under poor Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Mohammed, further said that many patent medicine stores were also sealed for selling expired and unregistered medical products. He said that the raids were carried out during NAFDAC’s routine inspection and surveillance, conducted in Dengi (Kanam), Wase, Yelwa Shendam, Shendam, Namu (Qua’anpan) local…
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) says only 58,000 doctors renewed their annual practice license out of the 130,000 registered doctors in the country. The Deputy Registrar of MDCN, Dr Victor Kolawole, disclosed this at the Induction/Oath Taking Ceremony of the 2022–2023 Batch B Medicine and Surgery graduates of Edo State University, Uzairue, on Friday. Kolawole said, “Since inception in 1963, we presently have over 130,000 registered doctors in Nigeria. “However, as you know, because of the increase in migration of doctors out of the country, we have about 58,000 doctors who renewed their annual…
The police command in Gombe State, has assured adequate security ahead of Saturday’s local government council poll. Mr Hayatu Usman, the State Commissioner of Police, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday. He said that adequate personnel had been deployed to all 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state to ensure that the election was hitch-free. He urged residents to participate massively in the election, as they had nothing to worry about as policemen had been deployed to give them the needed security cover. “We are ready and prepared for…
In a recent state TV broadcast, Russian General Apti Alaudinov, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin and commander of Chechen forces in Ukraine, made alarming declarations regarding the future of NATO. During an interview with Olga Skabeyeva on channel Russia-1, Alaudinov boldly stated that Russia aims to dismantle the NATO military alliance by the year 2030. The excerpt of Alaudinov’s remarks, shared on social media platform X by former Ukrainian ministerial adviser Anton Gerashchenko, has sparked widespread concern among global leaders. Alaudinov, who was appointed as deputy at the Main Directorate for Military and Political Work at the…
A recent economic snapshot of the United States has sent shockwaves through stock and bond markets, as concerns over slowing growth and persistent inflation grip investors. The latest data, released by the Commerce Department on Thursday, revealed a sluggish expansion of gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter, coupled with stubbornly high inflation figures. According to the report, GDP grew at a rate of 1.6% on a seasonally- and inflation-adjusted annual basis, falling short of economists’ expectations of 2.4%. Concurrently, inflation, measured by the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge, remained firm in March, indicating potential challenges ahead for monetary policymakers.…