Author: bibncollar

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit and illicit drugs, sealing over 3,000 shops in the Idumota Open Drug Market, Lagos, within the first week of enforcement. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, NAFDAC revealed that its officials uncovered several alarming violations during the operation. Among the discoveries were vaccines stored in poorly ventilated, dilapidated rooms covered with iron sheets, creating serious health hazards. Authorities also seized large consignments of banned and unregistered drugs, including Analgin injections, diverted HIV antiretroviral medications, and expired medicines awaiting illegal…

The Director of Finance, Hadejia Jama’are River Basin, Alhaji Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has dismissed the influence of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), stating that the group lacks the political strength to prevent President Bola Tinubu from securing a landslide victory in northern Nigeria in the 2027 elections. Illiyasu Kwankwaso, a supporter of APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, echoed Ganduje’s stance that “the North should wait till 2031 to reclaim power. “He argued that the ACF does not represent the interests of the North and questioned its past contributions to the region”. ”Most of you in this forum held power for…

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticized the Canadian embassy in Nigeria following its refusal to grant visas to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other senior military officials. The officers were scheduled to participate in a veterans’ event in Canada but were denied entry visas, a decision that drew strong reactions from Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. Reacting to the situation, Ribadu condemned the embassy’s actions, stating that they were “disrespectful” and adding that ”they can go to hell”. Fani-Kayode took to social media to support Ribadu’s stance, praising him for his firm…

Residents of Omoku Clan in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, have filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Oando PLC, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for allegedly failing to comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The plaintiffs, members of the Omoku Communities Youth Leaders Forum (OCYLF), including Ekeukwu Pureheart, Famous Elemchukwu Clinton, Daniel Woko, Ugochukwu Adah, Stanley Ohia, and Victor Eke, claim that the oil companies have neglected their legal obligation to directly engage with host communities as required by the PIA. Filed under suit number…

The National Assembly has given its approval to the N54.9 trillion budget for the 2025 fiscal year, marking an increase of N700 billion from the initially proposed N54.2 trillion. A breakdown of the budget allocations shows N3.6 trillion set aside for statutory transfers, N14.3 trillion for debt servicing, N13.6 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenses, and N23.9 trillion earmarked for capital projects. Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had sent a request to the National Assembly, seeking an upward revision of the initial budget proposal from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion. He attributed the adjustment to additional revenue generated by key government agencies.…

Leading telecommunications provider MTN Nigeria has issued a public apology to customers following backlash over a sudden 200% increase in the price of its 15GB digital bundle. In a message addressed to “15G digital bundle lovers,” MTN acknowledged the frustration of customers who woke up to significantly higher data costs. The company admitted its misstep, stating, “We don cast. We get it and admit it. Let’s just say na mistake.” The informal and lighthearted tone of the apology, infused with Nigerian Pidgin, is an unusual approach for corporate communication. Rather than offering detailed justifications for the price hike, the company…

Former presidential spokesman Reno Omokri has dared ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to prove he is not under travel restrictions by successfully entering the United States. In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Omokri claimed that El-Rufai abandoned his plans to study abroad because he is allegedly barred from leaving Nigeria. He further accused the former governor of spreading false claims that President Bola Tinubu was planning to arrest him to divert attention from his real situation. “El-Rufai abandoned his plans to travel abroad for further studies because he has been under travel restrictions. He does…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned the federal government against any form of intimidation or harassment of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. In a statement issued yesterday, MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, warned that targeting El-Rufai could tarnish the democratic reputation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. El-Rufai recently alleged that there were plans to arrest him due to his criticisms of the APC-led government and his reported ties with opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections. Addressing the allegations, MURIC urged the government to tread cautiously, saying: “Considering the immense contribution of…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced a reduction in the petrol pump price at its retail outlets, lowering the rate from N960 to N945 per litre. The price adjustment took effect on Thursday, February 13, following directives from the company’s headquarters to all its filling stations. At an NNPC station in Ejigbo, a petrol attendant confirmed the development, stating, “Yes, this morning (Thursday), we received instructions from the head office to reduce the price from N960 to N945. You can already see the level of patronage and the long queues”. Despite the reduction, some consumers remain skeptical…

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has declared that bad roads will no longer define Abia State, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to delivering world-class road infrastructure. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the reconstruction and dualisation of the 5.5-kilometre Owerrinta-Umuikaa Road, Otti assured residents that all roads whether federal or state-owned are a priority for his government. “We came prepared to change the ugly experiences of road users entering Abia. Never again will bad roads define the entry points into our state,” he stated. Governor Otti emphasized his administration’s strategy of securing project funding in advance to prevent contractor indebtedness and…