Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims linking its officers to a viral video showing uniformed personnel scooping fuel from a crashed tanker. In a press statement issued on Monday by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the NPF clarified that the individuals in the footage were not policemen but uniformed personnel from a neighbouring francophone country. “The viral video circulating in the media that depicts uniformed personnel in camouflage scooping fuel from the wreckage of an accident tanker was just released to discredit the Nigeria Police Force. It is essential to clarify that the individuals in the video…

The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has lamented the arrest of one of the church’s pastors abroad. He said the pastor was arrested for addressing those in attendance at a programme “Ladies and gentlemen.” According to him, the statement was considered discriminatory because it did not capture all of the genders identified by their culture. The pastor made this known during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service at the RCCG’s Throne of Grace in Lagos State on Sunday. His sermon, which was broadcast to all parishes of the church, was titled “My father’s house.” “The end…

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, on Sunday explained why the northern governors advised President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the controversial tax reform bills. The governor who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said the Northern Governors Forum only needs time for consultation. He argued that contrary to some insinuations in some quarters, the northern governors are not against President Tinubu’s administration. According to him, the north cannot be against Tinubu as over 60 per cent of his votes in the 2023 general elections came from the region. Zulum explained that if the bill scales through the…

The Abia State Government (ABSG) has described as false and misleading the information by the national leadership of the Organized Labour that Abia is among the 14 States yet to commence the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and hence should embark on an industrial action. The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba was disclosed this while briefing newsmen at Government House Umuahia during a meeting with the Organized Labour in the State. He said that Abia was one of the first states to commence to implement the new wage for its workers and had already…

The Abia State government has expressed strong reservation about the flagrant abuse of the appellations “His Royal Majesty,” and “His Royal Highness” by some Ezeogos in various autonomous communities in the state even when they are not government recognised traditional rulers. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, said that it has also been proven that the Ezeogos conferred chieftaincy titles on some citizens and friends of their various autonomous communities when they are not in the position to confer such chieftaincy titles on people. The statement further stressed that the Abia State…

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, has described the late Senate President, Joseph Wayas, as a towering figure in Nigeria’s democratic journey and a source of pride for the state. He disclosed this on Saturday when the remains of Wayas were laid to rest in his hometown of Basang, Obanliku Local Government Area of the state. Ayambem, in his condolence message, said that Wayas was an exceptional leader, a patriot, and a symbol of integrity. ” He said, “His contributions to our nation’s democracy during the Second Republic set the standard for leadership in…

The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has elected Chief Tony Okocha as its new chairman. This was just as the new opposition party chairman declared that the party would take over the seat of power in the state come 2027. Okocha, the hitherto Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in the state, was elected unopposed alongside other executives during the party’s state delegate congress held in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday. The delegate congress which was conducted through voice vote was presided over by Dr Adoye Omalez, who represented the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. Speaking after…

Investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, on Saturday, revealed key details of his recent encounter with the Nigerian Army, calling for a complete overhaul of the country’s security structures to tackle illegal crude oil bunkering effectively. Soyombo also shared how the oil bunkers provided him with an account of the sensitive information he had previously shared with the Nigerian Army, aimed at curbing illicit bunkering operations. During an interview on Arise TV, Soyombo confirmed that his arrest occurred while conducting an undercover investigation. He disclosed that he had been investigating the security network that protects illegal bunkers, which he described as a…

The Sly Ezeokenwa faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State is celebrating a recent Supreme Court ruling that validates Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of APGA. This ruling is seen as a saving grace for the party, preventing further disintegration and distraction. Some of the members, including Nzube Monday and Kennedy Uduma, said they would now concentrate and prepare for the task ahead in 2027. Also speaking on the matter, the former governorship candidate of APGA during the 2023 election, Professor Gregory Ibe, said that Ezeokenwa’s reaffirmation by the Supreme Court is a testament to…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has congratulated Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her re-appointment as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to serve for a second term. Kalu in a statement eulogized Okonjo-Iweala who was Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, saying that she has made some footprints in the sands of time and the annals of world’s history as the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization as Director-General. The Deputy Speaker who described Okonjo-Iweala as a unique African Amazon, said…