Author: Olukayode Oke

Nigeria’s decision to eliminate fuel subsidies has had a significant impact, resulting in the collapse of a the black markets in West African nations. This sector, which played a central role in the region’s economic activity, has been disrupted as the price of cheap contraband petrol, from Nigeria suddenly goes up. In a report on Monday, American news platform, Reuters, noted that black market fuel vendors and commercial drivers in Cameroon, Benin and Togo, who heavily relied on smuggled petrol from Nigeria, have witnessed their businesses crumble since the subsidy removal. Due to fuel supplies hardship , long queues is…

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, on Monday, announced the suspension of further work on the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to reduce gridlock during the Sallah celebration. The announcement was made in a statement released by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos Engr. (Mrs.) Olukorede Kesha. According to the statement, construction works on the road will be put on hold between Tuesday, June 27, 2023, to Sunday, July 2, 2023, to allow travellers during the Sallah break to have easy access. The statement reads: “Due to the recent heavy traffic flow being experienced on the Lagos Shagamu…

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has denied renouncing his Nigerian citizenship. According to a statement by the deputy governor’s media office, Hamzat described claims that he dumped his Nigerian citizenship as “misleading and inaccurate”. Last Thursday, an immigration lawyer in the United States, Olubusayo Fasidi, told the Lagos Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal that Hamzat took an oath of allegiance in the US to renounce his Nigerian citizenship. However, in the statement, Hamzat’s media office said the reports circulating are not the true reflections of the proceedings that took place at the tribunal. The media office said the witness…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has renamed some federal airports after several notable Nigerians. This is according to a memo by the Federal Ministry of Aviation dated June 1, 2023, and signed by Mrs. Joke Olatunji for the Director of Airport Operations. The statement made available to our correspondents on Monday noted that the President renamed the airports “as part of reforms of the Aviation sector”. The Maiduguri Airport was renamed after the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari and the Port Harcourt Airport after the late nationalist Obafemi Awolowo, while the Nasarawa Airport was renamed after the late founder…

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has made a personal donation of N1.5 million and hundreds of mattresses to three special schools in the state in fulfilment of his earlier promise to support the students with needed equipments. The benefiting schools are Government Special School for the Physically Challenged and Mentally Retarded, Ido Ekiti; Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro Ekiti; and Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti. His wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, who made the donation on the governor’s behalf, said the gesture was borne out of compassion toward ensuring the well-being of students living with…

A 23-year-old fashion designer, Oyetola Motunrayo, was on Thursday arraigned in a Kado Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for absconding with a friend’s N4 million on her birthday. The police charged Motunrayo of Ochacho Estate, Idu Abuja, with criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal misappropriation. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Stanley Nwafoaku, said on May 20 at about 4:30 pm, a written petition by LEO Attorney Solicitor for the complainant Miss Jennifer Ephraim against Oyetola Motunrayo was received. Nwafoaku alleged that on Aug. 24, 2022, the complainant celebrated her birthday at…

Elder statesman and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the provision of palliatives to curb challenges that have arisen from fuel subsidy removal. Clark made the call during an interview in Abuja on Thursday. It was reported that Tinubu had, during his inaugural speech on May 29, announced the removal of fuel subsidy which pushed the pump price of fuel from N194 to over N500 with variations in states. Clark who commended the president on the removal of subsidy said the government had done the right thing. “They have done the right thing. After…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has suspended the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah in the alleged N7.9 billion fraud charges brought against her by the Federal Government. The planned arraignment of Mrs Oduah for today, June 15, was put off by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo over alleged threat to his life by yet to be identified persons. At Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Ekwo brought out a publication by a corporate organization in which his life was severely threatened over the planned trial. Justice Ekwo, who was visibly angry over the developments, ordered the Economic…

The Police Command in Kano State has confirmed the arrest of 12 illegal immigrants from Mali and the Niger Republic as well as 33 other suspected criminals. The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Usaini-Gumel, announced on Wednesday that twelve illegal immigrants, seven of whom were Malians and five were Nigeriens who had been deported from Saudi Arabia, were found in a house located in Hotoro Yandodo Quarters, Kano. “The immigrants have wounds after altering their fingerprints with razor cuts to evade detection by Saudi Arabian authorities. “The 33 other suspects were arrested for various offences, which include armed…

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba has urged the 10th National Assembly to tackle the problems facing the country. The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said Nigeria was “facing perhaps the greatest challenge in our convoluted history”. In a statement on Wednesday, Agbakoba urged citizens to pressurise the federal lawmakers to address numerous lingering issues. In his statement, he listed the insecurity situation, mass unemployment, broken hospitals, schools, bad roads, and the high cost of living. He urged the legislature to focus on revenue generation, saying there are “low hanging fruits that can raise 100 trillion…

The Central of Nigeria has announced the cessation of the RT200 Rebate and the Naira4Dollar Remittance Schemes. CBN disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement by the Director Angela Sere-Ejembi, Director, Financial Markets. “Cessation of RT200 Rebate Scheme and the Naira4Dollar Remittance Scheme, with effect from 30 June 2023”, the statement reads. The development followed the announcement of foreign exchange market rate unification by CBN. It was reported that the Country’s apex bank officially confirmed the changes to Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. The unification of Nigeria’s foreign market comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pledges transformation of the economic sector.…

The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has vowed to continue with the foundation laid by his boss and governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, in the administration of the state. He warned politicians in the state against heating up the polity as the state is preparing for the state governorship election, coming up next year. Aiyedatiwa, who stated this in a statement he issued on Wednesday, also noted that there was no division in the administration of Governor Akeredolu. According to the statement, the acting governor noted that the state was enjoying peace and tranquillity and…