Tag: Bola Tinubu

Factional firestorm: Obi, Abure camps clash over parallel NEC meetings

Editor

The leadership tussle in the Labour Party took a dramatic twist on Monday after the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee of the Labour Party announced the removal of Hon Afam Ogene as LP Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives over his involvement in anti-party activities. The NEC also vowed to direct the disciplinary committee to sanction LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Oti, if they go ahead with their planned stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday, as well as other activities that may…

MTN tackles Netflix, Showmax, others in streaming battle

Editor

In a bold move to reshape Africa’s digital entertainment space, telecoms giant MTN Group has teamed up with UK-based video software powerhouse Synamedia to launch a next-gen streaming platform for mobile and broadband users across the continent. The partnership, aimed at delivering high-quality, relevant, and accessible content, marks MTN entry into direct competition with major players like Netflix, Showmax, Prime Video, and MultiChoice. MTN’s Chief Commercial Officer, Selorm Adadevoh, said the collaboration is set to transform how Africans consume video, tapping into cutting-edge technology and real-time customer insights to deliver a deeply local and inclusive streaming experience.

Tinubu promises tech-driven, modern police force to boost internal security

Editor

President Bola Tinubu says his administration is determined to bequeath a well-trained, well-motivated and well-equipped Police Force whose operations are enhanced by modern tools and technology to combat crime in Nigeria effectively. He said this had become necessary to ensure that the nation’s security forces are constantly “steps ahead of those who threaten the peace, welfare, and prosperity” of the nation. “A secure Nigeria is vital for our collective prosperity, and this vision begins with ensuring that our police force is well-equipped, well-trained, and well-motivated,” Tinubu said when he appeared…

‘It’s fake news,’ Presidency denies sacking INEC boss, Yakubu

Editor

The Presidency has debunked widespread reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC , Professor Mahmood Yakubu. The reports, which went viral early Monday, alleged that Yakubu had been removed from office and replaced with a certain Professor Bashiru Olamilekan in what was described as a “sweeping change” in the electoral body’s leadership. Reacting to the claims, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, described the news as false and urged the public to…

Oil, commodities slump amid US-China tariff showdown

Editor

Asian equities collapsed on a black Monday for markets after China hammered the United States with its own hefty tariffs, ramping up a trade war many fear could spark a recession. Trading floors were overcome by a wave of selling as investors fled to the hills on the worst day for equities since the pandemic, with Hong Kong shedding 10 percent, Tokyo briefly diving eight percent and Taipei more than nine percent. Futures for Wall Street’s markets were also taking another drubbing, while concerns about the impact on demand also…

20 governors under fire for delaying N70k minimum wage

Editor

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Alhaji   Haruna Kankara, on Sunday, said about 20 states have yet to implement the N70,000 new minimum wage for local government workers and primary school teachers. The states include Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Borno and 11 others. The NULGE leader disclosed this in response to questions  on the implementation of the new minimum wage with reference to the LG workers and primary school teachers in the country. Following the signing of…

CBN’s $10.50m funding not loan but grant – World Bank

Editor

The World Bank has clarified that the planned $10.50m financing to the Central Bank of Nigeria is a grant, not a loan. According to a source at the World Bank who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity on Friday, the amount is being provided under the Finance for Development Multi-Donor Trust Fund as part of a partnership between the World Bank and the CBN. It was earlier reported that Nigeria had approached the World Bank for a $10.50m loan to enhance the CBN’s technical capacity and modernise the…

Nigeria’s public debt hits N144.67tn

Editor

Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N144.67tn ($94.23bn) as of December 31, 2024, representing a 48.58 per cent increase compared to N97.34tn ($108.23bn) recorded at the end of December 2023. The Debt Management Office disclosed this in its latest report on the country’s public debt profile. The report also revealed a quarter-on-quarter rise of 1.65 per cent from the N142.32tn ($88.89bn) recorded at the end of September 2024, highlighting the continuous increase in the nation’s debt burden during the final quarter of the year. An analysis of Nigeria’s public debt on…

Stolen jewellery: NBA engages Patience Jonathan over ex-workers six years’ detention

Editor

The Nigerian Bar Association has waded into the lingering case involving 15 former domestic workers of ex-first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who have remained in detention for six years over alleged theft of jewellery and other valuables. A top official of the association said the NBA was also engaging with Mrs Jonathan to resolve the matter. Our correspondents had reported that 15 aides of the former first lady were held in the Okaka Custodial Centre, Bayelsa State, for allegedly stealing jewellery from Mrs Jonathan. Those affected are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka…

2027: Atiku, Obi, coalition leaders advocate electoral reforms

Editor

The 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, have called for electoral reform ahead of the 2027 elections. They said electoral reform was a crucial element that would aid the ongoing national coalition negotiations in achieving its objectives. As the election approaches and coalition talks among opposition leaders gain momentum, there have been numerous calls for the amendment or reform of electoral laws. Atiku, through his media aide, Paul Ibe, stated…