Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

A retired director in the Procurement Department, Ministry of Aviation, Musa Odiniyan on Monday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that Al Buraq Global Investment was not qualified for the contract awarded for the repairs of Katsina Airport by the Ministry under Hadi Sirika’s leadership. Odiniyan is the fifth prosecuting witness in the trial of the former Minister of Aviation. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Sirika and three others, Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment, on six amended charges bordering on contract fraud to the tune of N2,825,032,220.97. A statement by…

A retired military officer, Major General Bamidele Johnson Olawumi (Rtd.), has issued a strong rebuttal to comments credited to Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who alleged that retired military generals are behind illegal mining activities in Nigeria. In remarks reported in the media, Oshiomhole said, “Those involved in illegal mining are people in high places, including retired generals. These are not unknown people. They are well-known people with private armies who protect their illegal mining sites.” The statement has drawn widespread criticism, particularly from retired officers who feel targeted by the sweeping generalization. Reacting in a detailed statement, General Olawumi described Oshiomhole’s…

Some members of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State have expressed dissatisfaction with the election of Mojisola Meranda as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa over allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation. Meranda, formerly the Deputy Speaker, was elected Speaker on January 13, 2025, after lawmakers voted out Obasa, who has denied the allegations. A faction within the party representing Lagos West, Progressives Alliance, criticised the decision to shift the Speakership to Lagos Central, calling it an act of “injustice” against Lagos West, which they noted accounts for half of the…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn against Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The AFCON group stage draw was held at Mohamed V National Theatre in Casablanca on Monday. The African countries were divided into six groups of four teams to battle for the preliminary stage of the competition. The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the knockout. The best four third-placed teams will also get second-round slots. The Super Eagles will play Tunisia for the first time since the Carthage Eagles defeated Nigeria…

Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari has given insight into his health conditions since he left office on May 29, 2023. Buhari while describing Nigeria a challenging country to govern said that since leaving office his health has improved Speaking at an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting at Government House, Katsina State, the former president said he was often subjected intense criticism as Nigeria’s president., His words, “Those outside the corridors of power do not understand the complexities and difficulties facing Nigeria. ”My health has improved since leaving office. People who visited me told me I look better than before,”…

By Sam Hart In the last week, the media space have been awash with news of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu engaged in a series of activities in the United Kingdom. Keen watchers of unfolding socio-political developments will no doubt admire the dexterity of Kalu in representing Nigeria so elegantly at the global stage. Kalu’s mission to the United Kingdom, tagged: UK-Nigeria Strategic Legislative Dialogue, was an opportunity to engage in interactions with various layers of the United Kingdom socio-political actors and explore opportunities for further mutually beneficial cooperation and bilateral engagements. From the Lancaster…

Timileyin Ajayi, the suspected murderer of Salome Adaidu has pleaded not guilty to the killing of the National Youth Service Corps member who died a few weeks ago at his residence. The Nasarawa State Police command had arrested him on January 12 and charged him to court for culpable homicide punishable with death. According to the Police, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the killing of Salome Adaidu when he was arraigned before Justice Simeon Aboki at Court 2 in Lafia on Monday. The Officer-in-Charge, Legal, of the Nasarawa State Police command, Stanley Nwaforagu, told newsmen after the court proceeding…

The Sokoto State Government, under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, has announced the immediate implementation of the new N70,000 national minimum wage for all state civil servants, local government employees, and the Local Government Education Authority. The policy takes effect on Monday. In a statement issued by the governor’s Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa, Aliyu described the implementation of the revised minimum wage as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare. He urged civil servants to reciprocate the gesture with greater dedication and professionalism. “With the commencement of the payment of this new national minimum wage, we…

Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party over alleged anti-party activities. Bala Mohammed, who accused the FCT Minister of already serving the ruling party, All Progressives Congress’s interests, said it’s better for him to join the APC officially. He labeled Wike’s attempts to tarnish his reputation as desperate and ineffective, stating that Nigerians can see through the minister’s alleged facade. Drum Africa recalls that the Bauchi governor, on Thursday slammed Wike, calling him a “transactional politician” whose loyalty shifts with his personal…

US President Donald Trump floated a plan on Saturday to “just clean out” Gaza, and said he wants Egypt and Jordan to take Palestinians from the territory in a bid to create Middle East peace. Describing Gaza as a “demolition site” after the Israel-Hamas war, Trump said he had spoken to Jordan’s King Abdullah II about the issue and expected to talk to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday. “I’d like Egypt to take people. And I’d like Jordan to take people,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “You’re talking about probably a million and half people, and…