Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday received a rousing homecoming by her supporters and residents of the Ihima community of Kogi despite the state government’s ban on rallies and processions. As early as 8 a.m, her supporters from the five local government areas of Kogi Central that Senator Natasha represents gathered at the Ihima community of Okehi Local Government Area (LGA) to welcome the lawmaker. Several local musicians took turns entertaining the people that attended the celebration while they awaited the arrival of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. It did not, however, take long before the embattled Senator arrived at the place in…

A former Osun State lawmaker, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to look into the plights of contributory pensioners in the country. Oyintiloye, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state capital. The APC chieftain said delayed or non-payment of pensions, inadequate funding, and corruption within the pension scheme has led to hardship and financial stress for pensioners. Oyintiloye said that since 2004 when the Federal Government enacted the Pensions Reform Act(PRA 2004) which introduced the contributory pension scheme, pensioners had not been treated fairly,…

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) says that with Dangote Refinery and others coming on board, Nigerians should expect a crash in the price of premium motor spirit, better known as petrol.  The product was sold for less than ₦200 per litre before the removal of subsidy; it currently sells for around ₦930 per litre, depending on the area. However, the Director-General of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, said while the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration has led to a hike in the cost of the essential item, better days are ahead for the country.…

The Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amoka Monday, has imposed a curfew across the council area, citing security concerns following a ban on political rallies and unregulated public gatherings. In a statement personally signed by the chairman on Monday, he declared that the curfew was necessary to maintain peace and order in line with the directives of the Kogi State Government and the state’s Commissioner of Police. “The curfew, which takes immediate effect, restricts movement and gatherings in designated areas. “Anyone found loitering or assembling in restricted zones without clearance from the relevant authorities will be…

The Democratic Party has sued the Trump administration over an attempt to impose sweeping changes on the election systems, including requiring citizenship proof to register to vote and limiting mail-in ballot counting. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the Democratic Party asked a federal court to block the executive order, which prevents states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after election day. The president’s directive also requires proof of citizenship to be presented — through documents such as a passport — when registering to vote. “The President does not get to dictate the rules of our elections,” said the lawsuit filed…

The police have asked Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan to cancel her planned Sallah rally in Kogi State’s Central Senatorial District. Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, stated this in a statement released on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya. According to the statement, Dantawaye said the rally goes against the state government’s recent ban on political gatherings, which was announced on Monday. The statement reads, “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi…

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Henry Ikoh, has assured the people of Abia State that his leadership will ensure reduction in the level of poverty currently facing the people. Ikoh, who is a former Minister of State for Science and Technology, also assured that his government, if elected, will make the creation of job opportunities top priority. According to him, Abia State deserves more than average performance as being witnessed under the current administration. Addressing a delegation of APC supporters and Muslim faithful, who paid him a visit during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration,…

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday, announced that she would not back out on her plan to return to her constituency for the Sallah break. The senator also urged her supporters to disregard speculations making the round that she has cancelled her scheduled visit. She disclosed this in a statement issued by her media team in the early hours of Tuesday. The statement read, “We are pleased to confirm that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sallah visit to Kogi Central Senatorial District will proceed as planned. “Despite rumours circulating online, there has been no official announcement from…

The Federal Government has announced the closure of the Independence Bridge (Marina bound) starting April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works. The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, made this known in a statement on Monday in Lagos. She explained that the bridge would remain closed until the end of May 2025. She said, “The closure will affect traffic traveling from Ahmadu Bello Way and Adeola Odeku towards Marina, Eko Bridge, and Onikan by Zone 2. “Kesha advised motorists to plan their journeys accordingly and use alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion during the repair period.” She…

US President Donald Trump says he is considering the possibility of a third term in the White House despite prohibition by the constitution. Speaking in a telephone interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump said “there are methods which you could do it,” adding that a lot of people want him to contest as the US president for the third term. The US president said he had told those pushing for his third term in office that it is too early in his current administration. “A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said. “But, I mean, I…