Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
Former Minister of Education and Petroleum, Professor Jibril Aminu, has died at the age of 85. Prof. Aminu, also a former lawmaker, passed away in Abuja on Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was a distinguished cardiologist, diplomat, academic, and public servant whose career spanned over five decades. His funeral prayer was scheduled for at 2:00pm at the Abuja National Mosque on Thursday. His remains will then be flown to Yola and later to his hometown in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State for burial. A native of Adamawa State, Prof. Aminu’s journey in public life began with remarkable…
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received Tunde Bakare, founder of the Citadel Global Community Church, at his Lagos residence. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, shared a photo of the visit via his official X account. Bakare was among the aspirants in the 2023 presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He scored no delegate votes as Tinubu won the election with 1,217 votes. Speaking in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) after meeting with Tinubu, Bakare said his lifelong vision is to see a functional and prosperous Nigeria. “My life, personal…
In a major infrastructural push for the nation’s capital, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the commissioning of 10 landmark projects within the FCT, beginning Tuesday, June 10. Wike, who made this known during an inspection of a project to be commissioned by President Tinubu, outlined a schedule in which the President will personally inaugurate projects over 10 consecutive days. “Mr. President has finally approved the commissioning of projects to start on June 10, which is next Tuesday, after the Sallah holidays. “That will begin with the…
Former Local Government chairmen across party lines in Abia State have declared their support for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government, pledging to work for his reelection in 2027. Operating under the aegis of South East Forum of Former Local Government Chairmen, the former helmsmen declared their support during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu on Tuesday at Umuahia, Abia State capital. Recall that that the Deputy Speaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency of the State also served as the local government chairman of his Bende local…
The Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday, disclosed that the change of leadership that occurred in the State House of Assembly has nothing to do with him. Recall that the Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan, and the Majority Leader, Emmanuel Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, resigned from their positions on Tuesday. Akinruntan, son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje local government area, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, stepped down as Deputy Speaker and was consequently replaced by Hon. Ololade Gbegudu from Okitipupa local government area. In his resignation letter, Akinruntan did not disclose…
The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of candidates for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election and announced the official commencement of election campaigns. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the list followed the conclusion of candidate substitution processes and the verification of personal particulars submitted by political parties. INEC noted that 16 political parties met the submission deadline of May 12, 2025, and are set to participate in the November 8 election. Among them, the African Action Congress and the…
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said that there will be no hiding place for those threatening the peace and stability of Nigeria. Abubakar gave the assurance during the Second Quarter Route March of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Wednesday in Abuja. He reiterated NAF’s unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s airspace and protecting lives and property across the country, emphasising that the protection of all Nigerian was its highest priority. The CAS assured all officers, airmen and airwomen to remember that protection is not just an obligation, but highest priority of the…
Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has dismissed a student, Oladipupo Siwajuola, over what it described as “gross violation of university rules,” including involvement in fetish practices, drug peddling, impersonation, and dishonesty. Siwajuola’s disappearance became a trending topic in early May 2025, after his mother took to social media alleging that the university failed in its duty of care. In an official statement released on Wednesday, and signed by the university’s Director of Marketing and Communication, Dr. Joshua Suleiman, the university revealed that Siwajuola had deliberately exited the Ilishan-Remo-based campus on April 28, 2025, without authorisation, disguising himself in a hoodie…
A former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has revealed that he does not go to the state anymore. Amaechi stated this during an interview on Arise News, adding that travelling to the state makes him have a mental disorder. According to the former Minister, seeing some projects he completed during his tenure as governor abandoned and vandalised makes him go crazy. Amaechi specifically noted that some of the primary and secondary schools he built with state resources were abandoned and allowed to be vandalised by his successor. “Now when I was sworn in as governor you’ll ask the…
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Adm Ibok-Ete Ibas, has appointed 11 new permanent secretaries. The appointment was contained in a Special Government Announcement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. The three-paragraph statement was signed by the Acting Head of Service, Rivers State, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown and sent to newsmen. The statement said the newly appointed permanent secretaries would be sworn in by the sole administrator on a date to be made known. The statement reads, “His Excellency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd), the Administrator of Rivers State has approved the appointment of the under-listed persons as Permanent…