Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has flagged-off the reconstruction of the 11.5 kilometres Ntigha-Nbawsi- Umuala road in Isialangwa North LGA with a promise to complete it within one year. Governor Alex Otti equally announced that the proposed Abia Airport Project will be flagged off sooner than later. Speaking at the event, Governor Alex Otti said that the flag-off is to unlock the prosperity of the land and cut down the long standing barrier against the reconstruction of the road for decades as well as enhance urban-rural migration and boost investment on agriculture. “This is more than just the regular…

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called for urgent  collaboration to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the South East region. Speaking at a high-level roundtable discussion in Abuja titled “Through Their Eyes: A Call to Action, Addressing Humanitarian Challenges in the South East”, the Deputy Speaker revealed that over 268,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently spread across 158 camps and affected communities in the region. The event organized by the Office of the Deputy Speaker in collaboration with the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), brought together international non-governmental organizations…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Sunday announced a reduction in its price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to ₦970 per litre for oil marketers. In a statement released by the Chief Branding and Communications Officer of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, said the reduction was to appreciate Nigerians as the year ends. He said the decision is the refinery’s way of appreciating Nigerians “for their unwavering support in making the refinery a dream come true”. According to the statement, the move is a cut from the refinery’s ₦990 ex-depot price announced earlier this month. In…

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Idongesit Etiebet, has announced the suspension of Nse Sunday Umoh, the Principal-General of Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep, over poor feeding of boarding students in the hostel. The commissioner said officials of the ministry decided to pay an unscheduled visit to the public school following an outcry from students against malnutrition, despite a huge amount of money paid as boarding fees to the school management. She explained that the condition of the students was made public in a viral video trending on social media, which caught the attention of the public and the government.…

Vice-president of Dangote Industries Limited, Edwin Devakumar, has said that the refinery and other local refiners have been unable to secure enough crude oil supplies despite the federal government’s plan to sell crude priced in the local currency. To address challenges in accessing foreign currency, FG in July said it would sell crude priced in naira to local refineries for an initial six months starting in October. Nigeria officially commenced the sale of crude oil to refineries in naira on October 1, forcing Dangote refinery to focus on local supply. The refinery received four cargoes of crude oil from the…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has expressed concerns about the economic hardship on the nation by policies of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government with a call on President Bola Tinubu to review Nigeria’s macroeconomic and fiscal decisions. According to the governors, a readjustment of the policies will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. This is among other resolutions of the forum during its meeting held in Jos, Plateau State. “The forum empathize with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship hoisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government,”…

The committee set up by the Edo government to recover government assets says over 200 vehicles belonging to the state are missing. The chairman of the committee Kelly Okungbowa shared the information with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Friday. He said three of these vehicles have been recovered less than a day after the group was inaugurated. Okungbowa assured the Edo people that the committee was determined to recover the missing government vehicles. According to him, bags of rice and garri meant to be palliatives from the Federal Government for the people of the state were…

Deputy  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has emphasized the crucial role of State Legislatures in shaping Nigeria’s constitutional future He made the emphasis, Friday, while delivering his opening speech at the Retreat for Speakers and Principal Officers of the State Houses of Assembly (South West Region) in Ekiti State, where he addressed the importance of proactive stances by State legislatures in the ongoing constitution review process. The programme was themed “Strengthening Democratic Governance at Sub-National Level”. Kalu, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, highlighted the committee’s current work…

President Bola Tinubu has sent a letter to the Senate seeking confirmation of Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff. In the letter sent on Friday, President Tinubu sought Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with the provision of Section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act. President Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff on October 30 following the illness of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. Drum Africa New recalls that General Lagbaja, however, died on 5 November. A statement by Presidential Adviser on Communication…

The Defence Headquarters has applauded the arrest of separatist leader, Simon Ekpa by Finnish Police. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, and the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau in their separate statement, described the arrest as a key victory in the anti-terror fight. The spokespersons said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has expressed happiness over Ekpa’s arrest. “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice,” Gusau said on Thursday. Similarly,…