Author: bibncollar

Local governments across Nigeria are encountering a new challenge in their quest to receive monthly allocations directly from the Federation Account, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has mandated a comprehensive two-year financial audit as a prerequisite for direct disbursement. Originally, the direct remittance of allocations to the 774 local governments was scheduled to commence last month. However, the process was delayed after many councils failed to provide the necessary financial details required for the payments. As a result, their share of ₦361.754 billion from the ₦1.424 trillion distributable revenue for the month was redirected through state governments. The…

The Nigerian military has described the recent Court of Appeal ruling affirming the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group as a significant morale booster for troops. According to the military high command, the ruling reinforces the government’s stance on national security and will encourage intensified operations to dismantle IPOB and its affiliates. A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Hamma Barka, reaffirmed IPOB’s proscription and designation as a terrorist organization. The group, which advocates for an independent state of Biafra, was first proscribed in 2017 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. The…

Senator Austin Akobundu, representing Abia Central, has called for peace following a deadly clash between residents of Ariam Eleuelu in Ariam Usaka, Ikwuano LGA of Abia State, and the Obot Akara community in Akwa Ibom State. The conflict, part of a long-standing border dispute, claimed one life and resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of naira. Speaking on Sunday night, Akobundu urged both communities to lay down their arms and embrace peace. He assured his constituents that he would escalate the matter to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North-West, which includes Obot Akara…

Rt. Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, the Federal House of Representatives member representing Jaba Zango-Kafaf and Chairman of the Health Care Services Committee, has officially defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection took place today at the APC party office in Samban Ward, where Hon. Magaji was warmly received by party leaders and supporters. In his address, Magaji expressed gratitude to the ward party chairman and APC members for their hospitality, emphasizing his commitment to serving his constituents under his new political platform. “I am honored to be welcomed into the All Progressives…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed the country on high alert following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, stated that while no cases have been reported in Nigeria, proactive measures are being implemented to prevent the virus from entering the country. Uganda’s Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola on January 30, 2025, with one reported case and one fatality in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mbale City in Mbale District. Authorities are currently monitoring…

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki to contest the 2027 presidential election if the party hopes to secure victory. In a statement on Monday, Primate Ayodele warned that former PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar is not the right choice for the party. He asserted that if Atiku contests again, it will mark the “final burial” of the PDP. “The best Atiku can do is support a credible candidate, and right now, the only viable option for PDP is…

Prominent lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor has denied any involvement in the appeal challenging the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). While Ejiofor is officially recognized as IPOB’s legal representative, Aloy Ejimakor serves as the lawyer for the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu. In a statement issued on Sunday, Ejiofor refuted claims linking him to the recently concluded appeal, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on January 30, 2025. “My attention has been drawn to a misleading tweet by Aloy Ejimakor, which seeks to misrepresent facts and mischievously associate my name with the recently concluded appeal on…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law a bill establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni, Rivers State, further expanding Nigeria’s network of federal tertiary institutions. Announcing the development on Monday via his verified X handle, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, described the move as a significant step toward addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusive national development. Bwala emphasized that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda prioritizes equity and the creation of institutions to prevent regional neglect in developmental projects. He also highlighted that the university’s establishment aligns with the administration’s broader…

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in eight newly appointed Federal Permanent Secretaries at the State House, Abuja. The swearing-in ceremony took place just before the commencement of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of the year. The newly sworn-in permanent secretaries include Onwusoro Ihemelandu (Abia), Ndiomu Philip (Bayelsa), Anuma Nlia (Ebonyi), Ogbodo Nnam (Enugu), Usman Aminu (Kebbi), Oyekunle Nwakuso (Rivers), Nadungu Gagare (Kaduna), and Kalba Usman (Gombe). In addition, President Tinubu administered the oath of office to 18 newly appointed Federal Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). This follows the President’s August 2024 appointment of…

At least 46 soldiers of the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces (SDF) were killed in a coordinated assault by militants of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) on Saturday. The attack targeted an SDF base in Iknewane, Tilia Department, near the Mali border in Niger’s Tahoua Region. Security sources described the assault as large-scale and intense, catching the military off guard. Reports indicate that the militants, heavily armed and in large numbers, overran the base, destroying or seizing nine out of 16 military vehicles. They also looted weapons and ammunition. Beyond the fatalities, a dozen soldiers were reportedly…