Author: Editor Francis

The 210,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery is expected to commence operations by the end of July after multiple delays. This announcement was made on Monday by Chief Ukadike Chinedu, the National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). Chief Chinedu stated that the operationalization of the refinery would enhance economic activities, reduce petroleum product prices, and ensure adequate supply. This follows the December 2023 announcement by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, regarding the mechanical completion and flare start-off of Nigeria’s largest crude refinery in Port Harcourt. The refinery complex consists of two units:…

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Edwin Clark, a prominent Ijaw leader, has called on the national chairmen of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, to address the actions of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Clark expressed concern that Wike’s recent statements in Rivers State could incite a crisis. Clark referred to a statement made by Wike, where the minister suggested he relishes in the errors made by others, presumably aimed at Governor Siminalayi Fubara, indicating these mistakes could lead to significant problems. In a letter, Clark reminded the leaders of the two major political parties about…

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The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) will launch a new student loan scheme for federal universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and technical colleges, announced Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, at a news conference today. Starting with 1.2 million students as initial beneficiaries, the portal for loan applications will open on Friday, May 24. Eligibility for the loan requires that the students’ institutions have uploaded their data onto the NELFUND dashboard. The loan, covering the equivalent of the students’ tuition fees, will be paid directly to their respective institutions. Additionally, monthly stipends will be provided to the students to…

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In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Professor Usman Yusuf, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and a member of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), delivered a harsh critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Yusuf accused the government of underperforming during its first year, turning the president’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” into a period marked by “deception, destitution, and hopelessness.” Yusuf lamented the plight of ordinary Nigerians, stating that many have lost hope under the current administration. “It pains me to see our people lining up to collect cups of palliatives. Renewed Hope has…

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has rescinded its directive, issued on May 6, that mandated commercial, merchant, and non-interest financial institutions, as well as Payment Service Banks, mobile money operators, and payment service providers, to begin deducting a 0.5% levy on electronic transactions for the National Cybersecurity Fund starting May 20. This withdrawal was announced in a circular released on the night of May 19, which was made available to *New Telegraph* in Abuja. The CBN did not provide a specific reason for the retraction, but the move follows widespread criticism of the initial directive. Last Tuesday, President Bola…

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Former lawmaker Senator Daniel Bwala has claimed that Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is unlikely to become Nigeria’s president until 2039. Bwala suggested that President Bola Tinubu will complete two terms in office, after which power will return to the north for another eight years before shifting back to the south in 2039. In a post on his X handle on Monday, Bwala wrote: “@PeterObi only stands the chance to be Nigeria’s president from 2039, when he will be 79 years old or older. By then, his message would shift from ‘vote for…

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The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) has notified Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) of alleged safety violations by Nigerian carrier Air Peace, just three months after the airline began its Lagos-London route. The UK CAA has reportedly filed two mandatory occurrence reports regarding Air Peace, which were subsequently forwarded to the NCAA. The letter from the UK CAA, titled “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report” with reference number CAA-UK-2024-0217, and “NATS Management System Safety Report,” outlines specific safety concerns. In response, the NCAA has written to Air Peace requesting clarification on the reported issues. The NCAA’s letter, reference…

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died at the age of 63 following a helicopter crash, CNN has confirmed, citing reports from Iranian news outlets. The tragic incident also claimed the lives of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others. Earlier  GOVIMA reports indicated that Raisi’s helicopter experienced a hard landing while he was visiting a northern region of Iran. At the time, his condition was unknown. The news of Raisi’s death comes at a particularly tense time in the Middle East, with ongoing conflict in Gaza. In response to the tragedy, the Iranian government convened an urgent meeting on Monday,…

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The Ekiti State Government has refuted claims that Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s ongoing visit to the United States has cost the state $500,000. Yinka Oyebode, the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, dismissed these allegations on Sunday, labeling them as baseless and a product of fiction. An online publication had accused Governor Oyebanji of squandering $500,000 on a trip to the US, accompanied by 20 individuals, and remaining abroad for two weeks despite the event’s four-day duration. The publication described the trip as a “jamboree.” In response, Oyebode issued a statement in Ado Ekiti, asserting that the government would not yield…

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and several notable world leaders are set to deliver keynote addresses at the upcoming Summit on the State of Democracy in Africa. Scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, the event will take place at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. The summit, a collaborative effort between the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, is supported by the Ford Foundation and Trust Africa. According to a statement released by the organizers on Sunday, May 19, the summit will serve as a high-profile forum to evaluate and discuss the challenges and opportunities for democratic…

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Oba Aderemi Adedapo, the Alayemore of Ido-Osun. In a heartfelt message, Adeleke extended his condolences to the traditional council, the people of Ido-Osun, and Oba Adedapo’s immediate family. Adeleke, through his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, emphasized the late monarch’s commitment to peace and progress within his domain. “My condolences to the people of Ido-Osun in Egbedore local government on the loss of its traditional ruler, Oba Aderemi Adeen Adedapo, Sapoyoro I. Oba Adedapo was a highly dedicated monarch, who made the progress of his subjects and Ido-Osun…

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A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on Sunday afternoon in northwestern Iran. The current status of Raisi and the other passengers is still unknown. The crash took place during Raisi’s visit to neighboring Azerbaijan. Rescue teams are attempting to reach the crash site, but poor weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, have hampered their efforts, state TV reported. Iran’s Interior Minister, Ahmed Vahidi, confirmed the accident involving a helicopter in Raisi’s convoy but did not specify whether Raisi was on board. Local media have suggested that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was traveling in the same helicopter as…

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