Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Federal Capital Territory, FCT minister, Nyesom Wike on Monday disclosed that the maintenance of the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre AICC will no longer be left in the hands of politicians in order to maintain the fidelity of the multibillion Naira structure. Wike stated this after inspecting some of the 17 projects slated for commissioning from June 10. The minister who also explained how he was able to navigate bureaucratic bottlenecks to deliver on the projects, said he has a standing policy of ensuring that top civil servants who might want to frustrate the Renewed Hope Agenda are sent…

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has defended his administration’s investment in the state’s brewery, insisting it remains a major economic asset despite criticisms. In an interview on Monday with Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni, Obi recounted the challenges he faced attracting investment to Anambra, particularly in establishing the brewery, which he said has become the state’s largest revenue earner. “If I ever tell you what I suffered for that brewery to be built in Anambra State, you will not believe it,” Obi said. “I had to go out trying to attract business to…

Mr. Aliyu Audu has resigned his appointment as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Bola Tinubu, citing concerns over efforts to suppress political opposition in Nigeria. In a resignation letter dated June 8 and submitted through the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Audu announced his immediate departure from the position, stating: “I write to formally tender my resignation as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, effective immediately.” In a separate public statement, Audu said his decision was not a rebellion but an act of conscience. He declared his refusal to be part of a…

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said 59,786 inmates, representing 74 percent of the population across custodial centres nationwide, have so far been successfully registered in the ongoing National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment exercise. Public Relations Officer of NCoS, Umar Abubakar disclosed this in a Monday statement debunking media reports suggesting the process has not commenced in custodial centres across the country. He said, “This report is misleading and inaccurate and does not reflect the current state of affairs within our custodial facilities. “A majority of inmates across various custodial centres nationwide have already been successfully enrolled into the national identity…

The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has insisted that he is not part of those who have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office. Ndume stated this on Sunday, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme. The lawmaker was keen to remind Tinubu that former President Goodluck Jonathan was endorsed by 22 governors of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2015 election but lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Last month, 22 governors elected on the platform of the APC, unanimously adopted Tinubu as their…

Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has expressed disappointment that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, led by President Bola Tinubu was more obsessed with unprecedented early campaigns, defections to its fold and other maneuvers for re-election in 2027, than addressing the security challenges and other existential problems confronting the nation. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Muhammad-Baba, ACF lamented that public policy responses to the insecurity situation, especially in the northern part of the country, had remained ineffective, even as profligacy and reckless expenditures by public officials were in contrast to sacrifices by citizens. ACF stated: “A…

A devastating fire has gutted a popular wood and timber market known as Kara Market in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, destroying shops and properties. The fire, which began in the early hours of Sunday, resulted in the loss of goods and structures worth millions of naira. According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread rapidly before firefighters arrived. “We just saw smoke everywhere, and before we knew it, the flames had engulfed most of the shops,” Musa Bello, a trader at the market, said.” The cause of the fire remained unknown. The Kebbi State Government has expressed its sympathies to those affected.…

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Most Reverend Timothy Yahaya, has called on President Bola Tinubu, National Assembly and state governors to prioritize governance for which they were elected rather than focusing on campaigning for re-election in 2027. The cleric, who pointed out that it was too early to start election campaigns in just the mid-term of the present administration, criticized political leaders for prioritizing power retention instead of addressing the numerous socio-economic problems confronting the nation. “Before this regime is two years in office, they started politicking, I think this is a bad culture for governance in…

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, 12th June, 2025, as Public Holiday to commemorate this year’s democracy day celebration. The Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians on this occasion of 26 years of an uninterrupted civil rule. This was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Magdalene Ajani, and released on Sunday. “June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign and peace is sustained and our future assured,” the statement quoted the minister as saying.…

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the state governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of deliberately abandoning all the uncompleted projects left by his immediate predecessor, late Rotimi Akeredolu. The PDP accused the governor in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Leye Igbabo, on Sunday. According to the statement, the opposition party said it had a strong conviction that the governor was attempting to destroy all of Akeredolu’s legacies in the state. However, the state Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Steve Otaloro, in a statement, reacted…