Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
President Bola Tinubu has lauded Dr. Kayode Fayemi for his significant contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and governance, as the former governor of Ekiti State turns 60. In a heartfelt birthday tribute personally signed by Tinubu, he described Fayemi as a dedicated patriot whose impact on the nation will be remembered for generations. Reflecting on their shared history during Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle of the 1990s, Tinubu credited Fayemi’s brilliance and strategic role in the establishment of Radio Kudirat, a crucial voice against military dictatorship. The radio station, named after the late pro-democracy heroine, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, was instrumental in rallying…
The lawyer representing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has stated that no one should plead for his client’s release, as he has committed no crime. Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s legal counsel, relayed this in a statement titled “Upholding the Rule of Law Is More Important to Me Than Anything Else”, issued on Saturday. Ejimakor asserted that Kanu’s release should be based on legal compliance rather than an act of clemency or pardon. According to the statement, Kanu appreciated the widespread calls for his release but maintained that both a Federal High Court in Nigeria and international…
Minister of Works, David Umahi, says more federal roads would be tolled to ensure effective infrastructure maintenance. Umahi made this statement on Saturday while inspecting the ongoing construction on the Abuja-Kaduna dual carriageway. The Minister said that the Federal Government was leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), to improve road infrastructure across Nigeria for socio-economic benefits. He stated that major roads within the six geopolitical zones and key economic corridors would be tolled. “However, we will not toll any road that has not been fully completed. Before tolling, we must ensure the road is 100 per cent finished,” he said. According to…
The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has condemned the death of a 40-year-old Nigerian citizen, Benjamin Okoli, in police custody. According to a report, Okoli’s death comes less than a month after NICASA condemned the alleged killing of another Nigerian, 50-year-old Jeremiah Okoye, who died in police custody on Jan. 13. NICASA President-General, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, described the curious deaths of Nigerians in South Africa as unbearable. Okoli, from Akpu in Orumba South, Anambra, is survived by his wife and child. “The Nigerian community in South Africa is mourning yet another loss in police custody. “Okoli was stopped,…
A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, who was recently dismissed for alleged electoral offenses, has expressed concerns about not being given a fair hearing before his removal. Speaking to journalists in Bauchi, Ari claimed that he wrote several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain his side of the story but his letters were rejected. He further stated that the tribunal overseeing the case between Aisha Binani and Ahmadu Fintiri had refused to accept his evidence. Ari insisted that he had substantial evidence to support his position but was never invited to…
A former Commissioner for Finance in Abia state, Dr Phillips Nto has rejected the moves by the House of Representatives to amend the Act setting up Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike by converting it into a conventional University. He said the action would not only be counterproductive but deepened the marginalisation of Abia State in the siting of federal institutions and even appointments. He said what Abia State needs now is a second federal university as being obtained in surrounding states and not to tinker with the structure of MOUAU as it is currently constituted. The Deputy Speaker of…
After days of power outage, the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company has restored power to its franchise area of Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states. The Kaduna State government convened a meeting on Friday with the management of the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company and the two in-house labour unions at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, where it was resolved that power be restored immediately. A statement issued after the meeting indicated that the parties had agreed to review past actions and work together to find an amicable settlement. A source said Governor Uba Sani acted as a guarantor and promised to ensure…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has debunked claims of an explosion at the Warri refinery. It said the Warri refinery is currently loading eight trucks of diesel and kerosene per day. According to a statement by the NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Friday, this was due to the intentional curtailing of operations on January 25. Soneye said reports suggesting that an explosion had occurred at the refinery complex were false. “NNPC Ltd. wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC). Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.…
The Anambra State Police Command said it has arrested nine suspects allegedly involved in the killing of the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Justice Azuka. The decomposing body of Azuka, who was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas, was found by the roadside at the second Niger Bridge, in the early hours of Thursday. The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Nnaghe Itam, who disclosed the arrest of the suspects in a press statement issued on Friday, said the joint security team on…
The House of Representatives at the plenary Wednesday passed through third reading a bill for an Act to establish Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, in Item Bende, Abia State. The proposed legislation titled, “Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item Bende to make Comprehensive Provisions for its Due Management and Administration and for related matters, was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Hon. Wole Oke and five other lawmakers. The passage followed the consideration and adoption of recommendations presented by the House Committee on University Education. The…