Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike Human rights advocate and presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore on Monday spearheaded a protest at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to demand better welfare and pension conditions for Nigerian police officers, both serving and retired. The demonstration, held in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, aimed to draw attention to what organizers described as years of injustice under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Protesters are calling for immediate reforms, including the complete removal of police personnel from the scheme. The group, which had earlier announced plans to picket the National Assembly, was escorted throughout the…
By Atoyebi Nike The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday turned down a request by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to retrieve his international passport in order to travel abroad for medical care. Justice Emeka Nwite, who is presiding over the N80.2 billion fraud case brought against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ruled that the medical report submitted to support the application was unsigned and therefore invalid. Bello, who is also facing a separate but related trial at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, had applied to both courts seeking the release…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria has once again ranked among the top gas-flaring nations in the world, according to the World Bank’s 2024 Global Gas Flaring Tracker report. The report places Nigeria alongside Russia, Iran, Iraq, the United States, Venezuela, Algeria, Libya, and Mexico as the nine countries responsible for over 75 percent of global gas flaring despite collectively producing less than half of the world’s oil. The economic toll of this waste was pegged at a staggering $63 billion in lost energy. The data shows that Nigeria, along with Iran, the US, Iraq, and Russia, accounted for the largest increase…
By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian naira ended last week slightly weaker, dipping by 0.14 percent to close at ₦1,532.34 against the US dollar at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). This came after the local currency rallied to a four-month high on Monday, opening the week at ₦1,518.88/$. However, it quickly lost ground, trading at ₦1,530.25/$, slipping further to ₦1,533.11/$ midweek before stabilizing at ₦1,532.34/$ by Friday. Throughout the week, the naira’s highest recorded rate at the official market was ₦1,538/$, while its lowest was ₦1,515/$. On the parallel market, trading hovered between ₦1,535/$ and ₦1,544/$. Analysts attribute the fluctuations…
By Ibrahim Babangida Lawal Katsina is not merely a demarcated territory upon Nigeria’s map; it is, in every profound sense, a crucible of statesmanship, sacrifice, and an indelible legacy that continues to etch itself into the chronicles of our national odyssey. That this illustrious state has, within a single republic, produced two Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is no fortuitous happenstance. Rather, it is an unequivocal testament to the moral fibre, resilient spirit, and steadfast integrity that course through the veins of Katsina’s sons and daughters. From the quiet sagacity and principled governance of the *late President Umaru…
By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian military has apprehended two members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Borno State for allegedly aiding terrorist operations by transporting arms and military gear. Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, made the disclosure on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja. He said the suspects Isah Abdullahi and Abdullahi Mohammed were caught in Liya, Biu Local Government Area, following intelligence that led troops to a waybill delivery from a truck driver. Among the seized items were 13 sets of military uniforms and high-voltage batteries. In a separate operation,…
By Atoyebi Nike Food prices continued their steep rise across Lagos State in July 2025, with major staples such as onions, local rice, and pepper experiencing sharp cost increases in key markets including Mile 12, Mushin, Oyingbo, and Daleko. The situation has compounded the economic pressure on households already grappling with Nigeria’s worsening inflation and stagnating wages. According to the July edition of the Lagos Food Price Survey, compiled by local market observers and analysts, prices of essential food items recorded double-digit increases in most locations, despite isolated declines in a few goods due to seasonal harvests. Breakdown of Market…
By Atoyebi Nike The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), is taking a leading role in shaping Nigeria’s carbon market through evidence-based policy input and collaborative research. At a stakeholder workshop held in Abuja on July 16, Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam said UNN, through its Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre (REPRC–EfD Nigeria), is working with partners to guide the development of a robust regulatory framework for the country’s voluntary carbon market (VCM). He noted that carbon markets offer financial incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are critical to global climate goals under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.…
By Atoyebi Nike Local Government Areas in Adamawa State are recording significant development gains following the state’s full implementation of autonomy, according to Japheth Gajere, Principal Special Assistant to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. Speaking to journalists in Yola, Gajere said the move which predates the federal directive has allowed the 21 LGAs to receive and manage their own allocations directly, boosting their capacity to execute key projects. He cited the construction of model schools across all LGAs as a major milestone, describing it as “unprecedented” in terms of scale and local initiative. The schools are expected to begin enrolling students…
By Atoyebi Nike The Borno State government says it has slashed pension processing delays by more than 60% as part of broad civil service reforms undertaken between June 2024 and June 2025. Speaking at a press briefing in Maiduguri during the 2025 Civil Week, the state Head of Service, Muhammad Ghuluze, highlighted key achievements, including the streamlining of pension documentation, digital upgrades in various ministries, and improved staff welfare. “We conducted promotion exams, trained workers in ICT, financial regulations, ethics, and leadership, and recruited essential personnel,” Ghuluze stated. However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges such as poor infrastructure partly due to…