Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has urged President Bola Tinubu to rely on accurate intelligence from security agencies and avoid listening to sycophants. In an interview with News Central TV, Zulum criticized delays in military procurement. He blamed what he called “contractocracy” — a system where contractors benefit more than the country. According to him, this is one of the key issues prolonging the fight against terrorism. The governor said Nigeria could defeat terrorism within six months. But this would require removing middlemen from arms procurement and prioritizing direct deals between governments. Zulum revealed that recent…
By Atoyebi Nike The Kaduna State Government has launched a youth skills development programme to train 12,000 people yearly. The goal is to boost self-reliance and create jobs, especially in the tech and industrial sectors. Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology, Patience Fakai, announced the initiative during a briefing at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Wednesday. She said the state has built three Skills Acquisition Cities in Soba, Rigachikun, and Samaru Kataf. Each centre will offer training in 13 trades, including welding, aluminum work, fashion design, and solar panel installation. The state is working with the National Board for…
By Atoyebi Nike Imo, Jigawa, and Sokoto states recorded the highest average retail prices for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, in April 2025, according to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The NBS, in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch report released on Wednesday, revealed that residents of Jigawa paid an average of ₦1,588.50 per litre—the highest in the country—followed closely by Sokoto at ₦1,567.84 and Imo State at ₦1,550.00. These figures mark a shift from March 2025, when Jigawa, Kaduna, and Cross River topped the price chart with average retail prices…
By Moses Amos Bwari, Nigeria – In a tense semi-final clash at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abakaliki continued their remarkable run in the competition by edging past their opponents in a dramatic penalty shootout after a goalless draw in regulation time. The underdogs once again defied expectations, showing grit and composure as they triumphed from the spot, booking their place in the final. The result marks yet another major upset in what has become a fairytale journey for the team from Ebonyi State. Despite being held scoreless over 90 minutes, both sides created several chances, with the goalkeepers stepping up…
By Atoyebi Nike The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to step in quickly to stop the cholera outbreak in Zongo, Badagry West LCDA, Lagos State. The call came after Hon. Sesi Whingan moved a motion during Wednesday’s plenary. Lawmakers also held a minute of silence for those who died. Whingan warned that many lives are at risk due to dirty water, poor sanitation, and a weak healthcare system. He said things got worse after the Nigerian Air Force Mother and Child Care Hospital was relocated. A four-year power outage has also shut down water systems and vaccine…
By Atoyebi Nike The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has successfully completed the distribution of laptops to final-year students benefiting from its scholarship initiative across various universities in Nigeria. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Interim Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the distribution exercise took place between April and May 2025, covering 663 recipients in 26 partner institutions and 72 non-affiliated universities. The initiative, aimed at bolstering academic research and productivity, also coincided with the physical verification and orientation of 3,171 new scholarship beneficiaries for the 2024/2025 academic year. Led…
By Atoyebi Nike The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reiterated its commitment to combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promoting gender equality across Nigeria, particularly at the grassroots level. Speaking during the launch of the first phase of a gender sensitization and advocacy campaign in Bauchi on Wednesday, NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, said the initiative would be championed through the Corps’ Gender Vanguard Community Development Service (CDS) groups. Nafiu, who was represented by the Bauchi State Coordinator, Rifkatu Yakubu, noted that the campaign will be rolled out across all 774 local government areas. He explained that the programme,…
By Atoyebi Nike The United Kingdom’s annual inflation rate jumped sharply to 3.5% in April, marking its highest level in over a year, as rising household utility bills placed renewed pressure on consumers. The Office for National Statistics (ONS), in data released Wednesday, said the Consumer Prices Index rose from 2.6% in March to 3.5% in April. The figure surpassed analysts’ expectations, who had predicted an increase to 3.3%. “This is the highest inflation rate since early 2024,” the ONS noted. The sharp uptick was attributed mainly to significant increases in gas, electricity, and water bills, which regulators permitted utility…
By Atoyebi Nike Senator Ajibola Basiru, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on three senators from Osun State to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after backing President Bola Tinubu for a second term. Senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Lere Oyewumi (Osun West), and Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central) had jointly endorsed President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. Reacting to their endorsement, Basiru said the gesture showed they recognised Tinubu’s leadership and achievements. He described the move as an act of political maturity and integrity. In a statement issued by his campaign team, the Senator…
The Osun State Police Command has stated that it has not received any official briefing from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) concerning the escape of seven inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, which reportedly occurred following a structural breach caused by heavy rainfall. Police spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, reported on Wednesday that although intelligence gathered confirmed the incident, no formal communication has been made by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). “We also heard about the escape, but there is no official report made to the police by the NCoS,” Ojelabi said. “From the intelligence report we got,…