Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

A petrol tanker exploded at Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area, Jigawa State In a devastating incident on Wednesday morning, leading to the loss of lives of over 90 persons, with 50 others hospitalised. The explosion occurred around 12:30 AM when the driver of the tanker, travelling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University, Majiya. According to the Police Public Relations Officer of Jigawa State Command, DSP Lawan Adam, the disaster was triggered by residents who had rushed to scoop spilt petrol after the tanker overturned. “The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker…

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has debunked the report of planned impeachment against him, describing it as fake and a figment of the writer’s imagination. Akpabio spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in a statement, on Wednesday following online publications tagged “DSS Takes over National Assembly amid Impeachment Speculations against Senate President Akpabio.” He insisted that there was no crack in the Upper Chamber and no Senator or Caucus was plotting any impeachment against the President of the Senate, stressing that “every Senator is focused on raising the bar of Legislative Agenda…

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, says the Nigerian government desires the “ethical and responsible” use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to protect democracy. Mr Kalu spoke on Monday at the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Debate in Geneva, Switzerland, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Levinus Nwabughiogu. The IPU is a forum for parliamentarians, where lawmakers discuss global issues. The deputy speaker, who spoke on the theme: “Harnessing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future”, highlighted the critical role of AI in development but warned of the dangers of…

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has condemned in strong terms the ill-treatment of members of the nation’s senior team, the Super Eagles, and its delegation to a return leg of the 2025 African Cup of Nation (AFCON) qualifier in Libya. Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh decried the antics and shameful behaviour of the Libyan officials and authorities saying, “This unfortunate incident is a stark reminder of the disregard for human dignity and the lack of respect for international norms”. He declared that the reported mistreatment of the…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has assured Students across the South East geopolitical zone will soon be included in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). It will be recalled that the South East Caucus in the National Assembly has protested the exclusion of the region after the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) released the list of the institutions that will benefit from the loan nationwide. In a statement on Monday, the Deputy Speaker said that his office has engaged the authorities in charge of the students loans, expressing optimism that in the coming days, the…

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged politicians in Nigeria to stop weaponising insecurity against their opposition in office. She spoke before a room filled with lawyers at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Sunday. The former Nigerian finance minister delivered a keynote address entitled, ‘A Social Contract For Nigeria’s Future’. “We cannot have socio-economic development without security. We certainly cannot have security without development,” the WTO chief said. “We all know that security has been…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the judgement of a Federal High Court which ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to allow the participation of 381 ad-hoc delegates in its February 22 primary election in Edo State. The primary election produced Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the party in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state. A three-man panel of the appellate court set aside the judgement of Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered on the 4th of July, 2024, on the grounds that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit of the aggrieved…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Directors-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS). Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed is the new Director-General of the NIA while Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi is the new Director-General of the DSS. Ambassador Mohammed has had an illustrious career in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995. He had served in various roles, culminating in his promotion to the rank of Director and his subsequent appointment as the head of the Nigerian mission to Libya. The 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, had served in…

Senator representing Abia North Senatorial zone, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has dissociated himself from different controversial remarks made by the Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Okey Ezeala This is even as the senator warned that the publicity secretary should make efforts to separate personal opinions from party’s opinion. In a statement issued from Kalu’s media office and signed by George Maduka on Sunday, Kalu called on Ezeala to discontinue using his name to promote his controversial opinions According to the statement, “ Okey Ezeala does not work in the senate office of Senator Orji…

Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmad Rufai Abubakar, on Saturday evening tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. Speaking to newsmen after meeting with the President, Abubakar disclosed that his decision to resign was due to personal and family issues, emphasizing that nothing was seriously amiss. He revealed that President Tinubu graciously approved and accepted his resignation, acknowledging the rarity of serving two presidents consecutively, a testament to his dedication and expertise in national intelligence. His wirds: “It’s a routine thing, from time to time to brief Mr Presidnet on situations and…