Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
A Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Abia State, Chief Charles Ogbonna, believes the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has been hijacked by external forces bent on destroying the party in Nigeria. Speaking on the heels of the suspension of Senator Adophus Wabara, the Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, by the Abia State Working Committee of the party, Ogbonna, who has since defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused the stakeholders of being used by some individuals to cripple the party. “Can sergeant in a police suspend a DPO in a Police…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to Dr. Winifred Awosika on her 85th birthday, praising her as a visionary educationist and entrepreneur whose impact on Nigeria’s educational landscape remains profound. In a tribute, contained in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu lauded Dr. Awosika’s five-decade dedication to shaping young minds through her pioneering role as Founder and Chairman of Chrisland Schools Limited, as well as Chancellor of Chrisland University. “Dr. Awosika’s life has been dedicated to pursuing knowledge, excellence, and nation-building. Through her vision, discipline, and commitment to quality…
The United Kingdom government announced on Wednesday that it was tightening immigration policies to prevent undocumented migrants who arrive in the country on small boats from later gaining citizenship. “This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused,” a Home Office spokesperson said. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government is under pressure to reduce migration after Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party won roughly four million votes during the last general election, an unprecedented haul for a far-right party. But the change…
The Edo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all satellite campuses of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. In a statement dated February 11, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, the government directed that all programmes and courses must now be conducted solely at the university’s main campus in Ekpoma. The statement read, “In line with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to raising the standard of Ambrose Alli University and the government’s significant investment in the institution, all satellite campuses operating outside the main campus are hereby shut down with immediate effect.” It further…
The authorities of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, have commenced an investigation into a scuffle involving a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts of the institution and a student over a filmed social media content. A spokesman of the school, Njelita Louis, said the management of the institution led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, would impose the appropriate sanction on any of the parties found culpable. In viral videos, a third-year student in the Department of History and International Studies, Goddy Precious, was seen around the corridors dancing before her phone, capturing a TikTok moment…
Music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba has set social media abuzz after confirming his romantic relationship with Edo State lawmaker, Natasha Osawaru. The revelation comes amid his recent divorce from wife, Annie Idibia, with the singer expressing his desire to take things further with Osawaru. Speculation surrounding their relationship intensified after 2Baba was spotted at the Edo State Assembly and a video surfaced of the duo at a Lagos club. Addressing the rumours, 2Baba took to Instagram on Tuesday to clear the air. In a video post captioned “To Whom It May kwansighn. #I don yarn my truth.…
The House of Representatives has appointed Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun) as the new Deputy Chief Whip of the Green Chamber. The Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, announced the appointment during Tuesday’s plenary session after consultations with the caucus majority party, the All Progressives Congress. The House confirmed this in a series of posts on X on Tuesday. Isiaka’s appointment followed the passing of Adewunmi OnanugaOnanuga, who served as Deputy Chief Whip until her death on January 15 after a brief illness. “Following consultations with the @OfficialAPCNg Caucus and other stakeholders from the South West, the Leadership of the House…
Nigeria has been ranked 140th position out of 180 countries in the world on the 2024 corruption perceptions index, according to a report by Transparency International. The TI’s latest ranking released on Tuesday sees the continent’s most populous nation move up 5 spots when compared with 2023 ‘s report and 10 spots as against 2022’s report. Denmark emerged as the least corrupt country with 90 points with fellow Nordic country Finland coming in second with 88 points, and Singapore in third with 84 points. However, countries that made the most corrupt list in the world were South Sudan, Somalia and…
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has scrapped free withdrawals for customers using other banks’ Automated Teller Machines, ATMs. Recall that it was pegged at three free withdrawals per month. CBN said the review was necessary due to rising costs and the need to improve efficiency of ATM services. By the new directive, “The three free monthly withdrawals allowed for Remote-On-Us (other bank’s customers/Not-On-Us consumers) in Nigeria under Section 10.6.2 of the Guide shall no longer apply.” However, withdrawals made from a customer’s bank ATM will remain free. Customers using another bank’s ATM will be charged N100 per N20,000 withdrawal…
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday, said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s election in 2023 was never to gain any favour in return. El-Rufai was an integral member of the Northern governors in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) who prior to the party’s primary, insisted that a Southerner must succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu later emerged as the party’s candidate and eventually won the election against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP). El-Rufai, who seems to have fallen out with the Tinubu’s camp, has been critical…