Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike Environmental advocates have raised serious concerns over the increasing rate of deforestation in Cross River State. At the 3rd edition of the Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Deforestation held in Calabar on July 17, 2025, over 130 participants, including community leaders, conservation experts, legal professionals, and government officials, gathered to address the crisis. The conference was organized by the NGO We the People, the conference focused on the failures of current forest protection strategies and the urgent need for new policies. Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of We the People, noted that although the state banned logging in 2008, more…
By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian government has initiated diplomatic efforts to repair strained relations with Ghana following rising anti-Nigerian rhetoric and protests targeting Nigerians in the West African nation. During a two-day visit to Accra, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties beyond government relations, emphasizing the importance of citizen-to-citizen diplomacy. Odumegwu-Ojukwu began her engagements on Tuesday evening with a brief meeting at Kotoka International Airport with Ghana’s Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, before his departure for London. She continued similar meetings with Ghanaian officials and Nigerian community leaders…
By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu is currently presiding over a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and cabinet ministers in attendance. The meeting is expected to mark the beginning of preparations for the 2026 national budget and discuss other key policy matters. Ahead of the meeting, the President swore in Nnana Uzokalu as a Commissioner in the National Assembly Service Commission. The Council also observed a minute of silence in honour of the late Caleb Olubolade, former Minister of Special Duties under President Goodluck Jonathan. Later today, President Tinubu is…
By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Pro-Chancellor, governing council members, and principal officers of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, Ogoni, in Rivers State. The announcement was made on Wednesday in Abuja via a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, Professor Don Mon Baridam, a South-South representative and academic from the University of Port Harcourt, has been named Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council. Professor Chinedu Mmom, also from the South-South and former Rivers State Commissioner for Education, will serve as the university’s Vice-Chancellor.…
By Atoyebi Nike The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has condemned a violent attack on officers in Adamawa State and warned smugglers nationwide that the Service will no longer tolerate assaults on its personnel. Speaking through Deputy Comptroller General Kenyide Ejibunu during a press briefing in Yola on Thursday, the CG described a July 16 ambush in Murjara, Mubi South LGA, as a premeditated attack involving stones, sticks, daggers, and threats to set officers and vehicles ablaze. One officer, Isah Mohammed, was injured, and a suspect died from a ricocheted bullet during crowd dispersal.…
By Atoyebi Nike Former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s failure to provide effective leadership and governance. In a resignation letter dated July 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP chairman in Ward 1, Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Melaye said his decision followed “deep reflection” on the party’s direction. “I hereby tender my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party at all levels of involvement,” Melaye wrote. “This decision has become imperative due to the lack of potency and capacity by the party to…
By Atoyebi Nike The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, says the 19 Northern states have recorded a 42.06% drop in debt falling from ₦1.98 trillion to ₦1.14 trillion under President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms. Bagudu disclosed this during a government-citizen engagement in Kaduna, hosted by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation. He said overall state debt in Nigeria dropped by 33.4% to ₦3.8 trillion, highlighting what he called “real gains” from the Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that monthly federal allocations to states and local governments surged from ₦458.81 billion in May 2023 to ₦991.81 billion by…
By Atoyebi Nike Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip has continued unabated, with at least 34 Palestinians killed in fresh airstrikes since dawn on Thursday, according to local health officials. Among the dead are 15 civilians who were reportedly waiting for humanitarian aid. The latest wave of attacks marks another grim chapter in the ongoing conflict, with strikes targeting multiple locations across the besieged territory. Eyewitnesses say the bombings struck areas crowded with displaced people and aid seekers, raising concerns over the safety of civilians already trapped by months of fighting and blockade. Health authorities in Gaza say the death…
By Atoyebi Nike Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has dismissed concerns of marginalisation in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, assuring Northerners that they are well represented and actively involved in governance. Speaking during a technical session at the Government–Citizens’ Engagement in Kaduna on Wednesday, Bagudu described the current administration as fair, inclusive, and committed to national unity. “There is no systemic discrimination in this government. We are fully involved and working to protect the North’s interests,” he said. He urged citizens not to be swayed by divisive rhetoric, noting that appointments under President Tinubu are guided by…
By Atoyebi Nike A prominent human rights activist, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu Shinkafi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State over the persistent killings by armed bandits. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Kaduna, Shinkafi who also serves as the National President of the African Youth and Conflict Resolution Network lamented the daily loss of innocent lives in the state, particularly among rural farmers. He argued that if political tensions in Rivers State could prompt emergency measures, the scale of violence and humanitarian crisis in Zamfara warrants even more urgent federal intervention. “The reality…