Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for his protection and guidance as he marked his 73rd birthday on Friday.  The President spoke briefly with journalists after attending a special birthday prayer session at the National Mosque in Abuja. “I feel good, I feel happy, and give thanks to Almighty Allah that has protected us so far and continues to answer our prayers, accept our Ibadah. That is key and very important to all of us,” Tinubu said. The prayer session, attended by dignitaries, clerics, and well-wishers, was dedicated to seeking divine blessings for the President and…

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, had ordered the immediate payment of salaries of all state civil servants and suspended appointees of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The approval for the payment of March 2025 salaries also covers all public servants and payments of pensioners in the state. This comes 24 hours after the State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress threatened to take to the streets if the salaries of local government workers since February 2025 are not paid by the end of the month. The State NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, at a news briefing in Port…

The Enugu State Government has ordered the immediate removal of all indecent and obscene artworks and pictures displayed on major roads in the state. The order is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, on Friday in Enugu. She described such artworks as detrimental to public morals and a contravention of the Child’s Rights Law of Enugu state. She said that offenders would be made to face the law, henceforth. “You are by this statement, ordered to take down without delay, all indecent and obscene artworks and pictures displayed…

In a bid to ensure maximum compliance to the ‘Operation Clean all Gutters and Drains’ Campaign of the state government, Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA) in collaboration with Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) on Thursday embarked on a sensitization campaign within the city of Umuahia. Speaking, the Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency, Ms Ure Abazie made it known that every last saturday of every month is set aside for the general clean-up exercise, stating that this month will not be left out. The ABSOA Boss who noted that the rainy season for the year has commenced, emphasized the…

The Kaduna State Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has disowned the immediate-past governor of the State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, saying it has no record of his membership. Assistant National Secretary of SDP in North-West, Idris Inuwa, made the disclosure at a press conference on Friday in Kaduna where he advised the former governor to follow the proper procedures if he intends to officially become a member of the party. “It has come to our notice that certain individuals, including Mal. Nasir El-Rufai are being rumored to have joined the SDP. However, neither the Chairman of the Kaduna…

The Delta State Government has directed the immediate withdrawal of the query issued to a student of the School of Nursing Sciences, Agbor, Osato Edobor, over her involvement in a viral social media video during the recent visit of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. In a statement on Friday via X, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, confirmed the withdrawal of the disciplinary query, stressing that the government is committed to upholding the rights of students in health-related programmes and ensuring a conducive learning environment. “The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, has directed the immediate withdrawal of…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu wanted. The agency’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, made this known in a circular released via the EFCC’s X handle on Friday. According to the EFCC, Achimugu is wanted by the agency in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. The circular reads, “The public is hereby notified that Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. “Achimugu, 51, is an indigene of Ofu Local Government Area of…

The South-East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to honor Professor Humphrey Nwosu by immortalising him for his pivotal role in ensuring that the historic June 12, 1993, presidential elections held and also put the elections in the consciousness of Nigerians. Expressing disappointment after the upper chamber rejected their motion twice, the South-East lawmakers, who had earlier walked out of the chamber told Senate correspondents in a separate briefing that President Tinubu has always been recognized as a ‘June 12 warrior’, making it fitting for his administration to acknowledge Prof. Nwosu’s legacy. South-East Senate caucus addressed…

The Senate at the plenary Thursday approved Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences Item Bende (Establishment) Bill and Federal College of Education, Bende (Establishment) Bill for third reading. The passage of the bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, followed the consideration and adoption of recommendations presented by the Senate Deputy Leader, Sen. Lola Ashiru. Recall that the bills reports seeking establishment of the university and college of education in Bende were approved during the Committee of the Whole of the House of Representatives and sent to Senate for Concurrence. The Bill…

The Senate has thrown out prayers contained in a motion seeking to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the late Prof Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) who oversaw the June 12, 1993, presidential election. The motion was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after lawmakers threw it on Wednesday. Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Prof. Nwosu’s legacy. Senator Osita Ngwu…