Author: bibncollar

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined assent to a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Education, Numan, in Adamawa State. His decision was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajuddeen, and read during Tuesday’s plenary by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. Explaining his reasons for rejecting the bill, President Tinubu cited legal inconsistencies, particularly in Section 22, which grants authority over land disposal to the state governor rather than the President, as required for federal institutions. Additionally, he pointed out an omission in Section 25(b) regarding the institution’s authority to award…

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N4.8 billion for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to sustaining care for people living with the virus. This decision, announced after the FEC meeting on Monday, comes as the country faces potential funding challenges due to recent shifts in US policies affecting the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a key source of HIV treatment funding in Nigeria. Speaking on the approval, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, emphasized the need for sustainable domestic investment in HIV treatment as global aid dynamics evolve. “This…

The Senate has appointed Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North) as the pioneer Chairman of the newly established Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC). The SEDC, one of the Regional Development Commissions signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, is tasked with addressing key developmental challenges in the South-East region. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Prior to this appointment, Senator Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation. Additionally, Senator Ken Eze (Ebonyi Central) has been named Vice Chairman of the committee, while other…

Nigerians have taken to social media platform X to criticize Kelvin Emmanuel, a known associate of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, for allegedly downplaying the progress made by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) in revamping the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. The NNPCL’s efforts to rehabilitate these refineries have been widely welcomed, with many Nigerians experiencing a festive season free from fuel scarcity and long queues for the first time in years. As the country’s leading energy company, the NNPCL has been working to boost fuel availability and create jobs. However, Emmanuel’s persistent criticism of the corporation has…

A former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has criticized the party’s reaction to recent calls for an opposition coalition, stating that it confirms how far the APC has drifted from its founding principles. At a two-day national conference on democracy last week, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar renewed his call for opposition leaders to unite in order to “save” Nigeria’s democracy. The event, which included ex-Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, featured discussions on the state of governance. El-Rufai particularly criticized the…

Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has weighed in on the ongoing debate over the establishment of Sharia panels in the South-West, describing the opposition as a product of ignorance. Controversy has erupted over the proposed Sharia arbitration panels in Oyo State and other South-Western states, with critics arguing that such panels contradict the region’s secular traditions. In Ekiti State, where a panel was recently established, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, intervened by summoning the Chief Imam of Ado Ekiti, Shaykh Jamiu Kewulere, and ordering its disbandment. Some Yoruba activists have also rejected the initiative, pointing…

Key political leaders from the North and other regions across Nigeria have reportedly decided to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a viable platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that these leaders, after months of strategic meetings, view the PDP as a “dead horse”, with its governors no longer seen as reliable forces to lead the opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A committee, formed in late December 2024, has been tasked with finalizing the framework for a new mega opposition party, with a deadline…

Forty-eight months after the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) introduced the Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East to demand the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, economic activities in the region remain severely affected, with businesses and public offices largely inactive. Despite repeated efforts by past and present governors of Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Abia, and Ebonyi states to restore normalcy through persuasion and enforcement, fear continues to keep people indoors. Many government offices either remain closed or operate at minimal capacity on Mondays, despite assurances of safety from state authorities. Investigations reveal that while some civil servants attend work…

Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North in the National Assembly, has attributed his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party’s opposition to the creation of Anioma State. Speaking in Asaba on Monday, Nwoko stated that he left the PDP to secure the ruling party’s support for the proposed state. “The governor and former governor, who are the leaders of the PDP, are against the creation of Anioma State. I sought support from the PDP national leadership, but the National Working Committee was too divided to provide direction,” he said. The senator also criticized Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, accusing…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned against extending the tenure of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, warning that such a move could weaken efficiency, create divisions, and erode public trust in the police force. In a statement on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, expressed concerns over the amendment to the Police Act, which now allows an IGP to remain in office until the expiration of their appointment letter, rather than retiring at 60 years of age. Akintola acknowledged the recent achievements of the police under Egbetokun’s leadership, including the rescue of kidnap victims and the…