Author: Editor
Our Reporter, Abuja A broad coalition of civil society organisations, rights advocates and community leaders has called on the Federal Government to urgently scale up security measures and protect internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable communities across Nigeria, warning of a recurring pattern of deadly attacks during the Christmas season, particularly in the Middle Belt. In a joint statement issued on December 19 in Abuja, Jos and Kaduna, the groups said Christmas had increasingly become a period of fear and displacement for many communities since the 2010 Christmas Day twin bombings in Ungwan Rukuba and Gada Biyu, Jos, and the…
Our Reporter, Abuja President Bola Tinubu on Friday presented a proposed ₦58.18 trillion 2026 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly, placing security at the top of sectoral allocations and unveiling a tougher national security doctrine. Tagged the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the proposal is aimed at consolidating recent macroeconomic gains, restoring investor confidence and translating recovery into jobs and improved living standards. In his address, which began at 3:31 p.m., Tinubu declared that all armed groups operating outside state authority would henceforth be treated as terrorists, warning that the government would pursue more…
Our Reporter, Abuja A civil society organisation, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has criticised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over its recent defence of the Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, accusing the police of confrontational rhetoric, disregard for judicial restraint, and failure to address public trust deficits associated with traffic enforcement. In a press statement dated December 19, 2025, and signed by its Executive Director, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC said the statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer raised concerns not only about the content of the police’s position but also about what it…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia An Nigerian man of Igbo, Mr Osinakachukwu Onu, 37, has been shot dead by South African police officers at a traffic checkpoint on the N12 highway in Klerksdorp, North West Province, South Africa. Meanwhile, four traffic police officers have reportedly been arrested in connection with the killing. The North West Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the officers, aged between 25 and 36, were arrested on Wednesday after they allegedly fled the scene following the shooting but were later tracked down by detectives. In a statement, the police said: “Four traffic police officers aged between 25…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, approved a minimum of two years’ imprisonment or a N5 million fine, or both, alongside a 10-year ban from contesting elections, for individuals involved in vote buying and vote selling. The House also adopted an amendment to Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act, making it mandatory for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit election results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) in real time, alongside physical collation of results. As part of efforts to curb electoral fraud, lawmakers further increased penalties for multiple voter…
Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka The Anambra State Government has announced that its 2024 budget recorded a 70 per cent performance rate. The State Auditor-General, Akosa Okocha, disclosed this on Thursday during the Audit Forum and Citizens Accountability Dialogue on the 2024 State Financial Statements. Okocha said the state performed creditably in 2024, recording a revenue surplus above the year’s budget projection, while the budget shortfall stood at 28.70 per cent. According to him, the state overachieved its expected revenue for the year by ₦92,813,471,665.63, representing 33.21 per cent, while the sum of ₦117,721,974,562.61, or 28.70 per cent, was the gap between…
Our Reporter, Abuja Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has disclosed that the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, paid a prison visit to Kanu on Thursday. Ejimakor made the disclosure in a post on X, where he expressed appreciation to the cleric for the visit, describing it as a show of solidarity at a critical time. “Thank you so much, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for taking the time to visit MAZI NNAMDI KANU today,” Ejimakor wrote. “As the distinguished Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, your…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Federal Government has reopened all 47 Unity Colleges earlier shut down this year due to insecurity in parts of the northern region, reaffirming its commitment to the safety of students and the continuity of education nationwide. The Federal Ministry of Education disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade. According to the statement, academic activities have fully resumed in the affected schools following the strengthening of security measures within and around the campuses. “Students have returned safely to their campuses, with many currently concluding their December…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Senate on Thursday confirmed a new batch of ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approving the appointments of several prominent Nigerians, including Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Mrs. Chioma Ohakim, wife former governor of Imo State; former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; and former Rivers State sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. At plenary, the upper chamber ratified a total of 64 nominations, made up of 34 career diplomats and 30 non-career ambassadorial nominees. The confirmations followed the presentation and adoption of the report of the Senate…
By Vitus Ozoke Nigeria has perfected a rare and lucrative export: titles without substance. We no longer export people; we export disgrace in formal wear. We export crude oil, yes – but more efficiently, we export Doctorates, Ambassadors, and Distinguished Anything-At-All, neatly packaged with zero intellectual content and shipped abroad with diplomatic immunity. We have turned titles into souvenirs – things you buy at the airport on your way out of accountability. The title “Dr.” no longer suggests academic achievement in scholarship, research, medicine, or even literacy. It merely indicates that, at some point, a cheque was cleared, and the…