Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has declared that any member of the Lakurawa terrorists seen by Nigerian troops is as good as dead. Musa was reacting to the court order that designated Lakurawa as a terrorist organization. Drum Africa had reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja proscribed the Lakurawa sect and other similar groups in any part of Nigeria. Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on the ex-parte filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, declared the group as a terrorist organisation. Reacting, Musa said the Nigerian…

The Senate has alleged that some retired military generals might be responsible for illegal mining activities across Nigeria, which continue to undermine the country’s efforts to diversify its economy. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, made this allegation during the budget presentation by Senator Sampson Ekong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, to the Senate Committee on Appropriation. Oshiomhole expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s inaction, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the illegal mining crisis decisively. He compared the situation to the government’s robust measures against illegal oil bunkering in…

Hundreds of illegal immigrants have been deported from the United States following a directive from President Donald Trump to crack down on illegal immigration. Trump had on his first day in office signed a series of executive orders aimed at tackling illegal immigration. He also declared the situation at the United States and Mexico border as a national emergency, just as he designated criminal cartels as terrorist organisations. The US president stopped the practice of granting automatic citizenship to children born in the US to undocumented immigrants. Trump also signed an order suspending the US refugee resettlement programme for four…

The Kano State Government land recertification deadline of 31st January 2025, has been described as sacrosanct as the Land Ministry and Physical Planning reveals it has now recertified over 2000 lands since the beginning of the process in 2024. Giving an update to newsmen on Friday, on the recertification exercise, the State Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Mr Abduljabar Muhammad Umar, said there was no going back on the deadline. Umar explained, that since the beginning of the recertification, the ministry has witnessed over one million activities of land owners coming for forms, registration and other recertification needed verification.…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of board Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers for 42 federal organisations and a secretary to the board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services. This is contained in a State House release issued by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, all the appointments take immediate effect. “The President has also appointed a new Managing Director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation. “President Tinubu directs the board chairpersons not to interfere with the management of the…

Bauchi State Executive Council has approved the sum of N8.1 billion for various infrastructural projects across the state. The Commissioner, Bauchi state Ministry of works and Transport, Professor Titus Saul Ketkukah disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting held at the government house Bauchi, on Thursday. Ketkukah explained that Governor Bala Mohammed had during his electioneering campaigns, pledged to ensure that the state was moved to greater heights, prompting the approval of several people-oriented of projects in line with the promises. He said that the Council approved the design and construction of six-span bridge along…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the arrest warrant against the manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, Ezekiel ThankGod. The development comes on Friday after a bench warrant against the music producer was issued by Justice Alexander Owoeye last week. The bench warrant was on the heels of an ex parte order filed by the EFCC. According to the latest reports, the commission through its lawyer Bilikisu Buhari requested that the warrant be withdrawn. Mercy Chinwo accused her manager of diverting $345,000 in royalties from her digital platforms and events. The artist claims that he received the…

The Lagos state government on Thursday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to traders operating under the Apongbon Bridge and on drainage setbacks in Lagos Island to vacate their stalls as part of its ongoing urban regeneration project. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab made this announcement during an inspection tour of the Savage/Elegbata-Bombata Drainage Channel around the Olowogbowo/Apongbon axis. Wahab expressed concerns over the negative impact of human activities in the area, noting that they contribute significantly to flooding and pose serious threats to lives and properties. “These drainage setbacks have been converted into shops and stalls,…

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe. Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, while presenting a letter of recognition of the new university to Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State on Thursday, said the institution is now recognised as the 66th state university in Nigeria and the 278th in the Nigerian University System. He said a copy of the recognition letter would be forwarded to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigerian Education…

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria has called on Ogoni youths to support the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland. The body made the call on Thursday in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Ogoni delegates in Abuja earlier in the week. To ensure that the concerns of all stakeholders are addressed, PETROAN suggested that the Ogoni delegates organise town hall meetings in all four local governments in Ogoniland. The association said, “These meetings will provide platforms for wider consultations and gather thoughts from…