Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, has expressed disappointment over how the conflict between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was handled. Nwoko voiced his concerns in a statement posted on his official X handle on Sunday. The senator representing Delta North District noted that the matter could have been averted had Akpoti-Uduaghan heeded his advice to apologise for her action. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate for breaking the Senate rules after she objected to her new sitting arrangement. She was suspended on March…

The United States President Donald Trump has stated plans to impose a travel ban on 43 countries. According to a report on Saturday, Reuters cited an internal memo and officials familiar with the matter. The memo lists a total of 43 countries divided into three groups: red, orange, and yellow. Although the list has yet to be approved by the Trump administration, it comprises several African countries, with African economic powerhouses like Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria and Egypt excluded. The red group consists of 11 countries- Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Cuba, Bhutan, Venezuela, North Korea, Yemen, and Somalia- whose…

The Nigerian Optometric Association has called on the Federal Government to employ optometrists in all 774 local government areas of the country to help address the increasing cases of glaucoma. The association also urged the government to grant waivers to importers of pharmaceutical products, including lenses, to reduce the cost of medical equipment and drugs for certain diseases. The President of the association, Chimeziri Anderson, made this appeal during a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday. The event was part of activities to mark World Glaucoma Week with the theme “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World.” Anderson expressed…

The Anambra State Government has placed a ban on the use of mobile phones by students in secondary schools across the state. Chairman of Post Primary Schools Service Commission in the state, Prof Nkechi Ikediugwu, made the announcement at the Anambra Schools’ Cultural Day celebration on Friday in Awka. Ikediugwu directed principals and teachers of secondary schools in the state to confiscate mobile phones brought to school by students. She said the decision was aimed at curbing distractions and enhance academic performance. Ikediugwu stated that there was the need to maintain discipline and focus in learning environments, noting that the…

The South-East APC Agenda Group (SAAG) has raised concerns over the actions of Dr. Alex Otti, the Labour Party Governor of Abia State, accusing him of deliberately downplaying the significant support he receives from President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The group highlighted that despite benefiting from substantial federal assistance, including increased monthly FAAC allocations that have freed up significant funds for the state, Governor Otti continues to operate from his private residence. In addition to the quadrupled allocations, the Abia State government has received several forms of support from the federal government, including N5 billion for the procurement of CNG vehicles,…

Renowned entertainer, business mogul, politician and youth leader, Obinna Simon, known as MC Tagwaye has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Tagwaye, who made this known on Friday morning in Abuja, noted that his detection is coming after months of intense consultation and introspection. Tagwaye, who disclosed that he was a member of the presidential campaign team in the last general election, explained that the decisive move is born out of his deep-seated conviction that the APC has deviated from its original ideals and is no longer committed to the welfare and progress of…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its sittings indefinitely, deepening the political tensions in the state over the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The decision of the House to adjourn indefinitely after passing three Bills into law, came less than 24 hours after Governor Fubara wrote another letter to the lawmakers, informing them lof his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House for consideration and approval. The indefinite adjournment was decided during plenary on Friday, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule in Port Harcourt. The governor had in the letter…

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to order over his comments on the Ijaw. The INC was reacting to alleged comments credited to Wike in which he said the Ijaw people ”were a minority of minorities in Rivers and other South South states except Bayelsa”. In a statement in Abuja on Friday, Chief Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, National Publicity Secretary INC, said that the congress had taken note of the FCT minister’s remarks. ”We will continue to maintain peace and stability, as we call on President Tinubu to caution…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has again written to the State House of Assembly, informing the lawmakers of his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House for consideration and approval. The governor, in a letter dated March 13 and addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said he intends to prevent the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other day within March that the House may deem fit. Fubara said his decision is in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget. He recalled the…

Tragedy struck at the Zone 9 Umuahia Abia State on Thursday as the Commander of the SRS in Umuahia, DSP Kenneth Ndu, slumped and died while eating with fellow officers According to sources, DSP Ndu had just returned from an investigative operation with his team when he decided to have a meal at the command headquarters. While eating, he reportedly gripped his spoon tightly, causing concern among his colleagues, who immediately rushed to assist him. Moments later, he collapsed. Efforts to save him were hampered by the lack of medical personnel at the Police Clinic on Bende Road, where he…