Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
Victor Boniface, the Nigerian Super Eagles striker, is lucky to have escaped a serious car accident in Germany with only minor injuries. The 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen player was involved in a crash on Sunday, just hours after helping his team secure a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. According to Bayer Leverkusen, Boniface sustained only two minor injuries to his hand, and is otherwise fine. This is a huge relief, considering the severity of the accident, which left his car badly damaged. Boniface had shared footage and photos of the smashed vehicle on social media, showing his hand…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sounded the alarm on Nigeria’s growing number of out-of-school children, citing it as a significant security threat to the nation’s future. He warned that the staggering 20 million children not in school are vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups like Boko Haram and bandits in the next decade or so. Obasanjo made these remarks in Bauchi during the commissioning of projects undertaken by Governor Bala Mohammed. “Let me emphasise what we want to do, human capacity building, education and human capacity building very important. World Bank says we have over 20 million children who should…
The transmission company blamed aged infrastructure as old as 50 years for the frequent grid collapses in the country. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has promised a backup or buffer system to ensure that Nigerians won’t be thrown into blackout whenever the national grid collapses. TCN Managing Director, Sule Abdulaziz, stated this Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme. He blamed aged infrastructure as old as 50 years for the frequent grid collapses in the country. Abdulaziz said, “Presently, we are doing the scatter system for the whole network and it is funded by the World Bank, and the project will…
The Nigerian Army has clarified that there’s no leadership vacuum despite the absence of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. According to Army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, Lagbaja is on official leave, and Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans, has taken over as acting COAS. Nwachukwu, a major general, emphasised that Lagbaja’s absence is not affecting the operations of the service. “There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said on Saturday. “To be very clear, the…
The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP has said it would not embark on protests against the November 2 Local Government election or institute any legal actions against the Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, Professor George Chima. The Action Alliance, AA and the Allied People’s Movement, APM had recently called for the removal of ABSIEC Chairman Professor George Chima, a boycott of the elections and also called for a peaceful protest as well as a threat to stop the local government election through legal actions. The aggrieved parties based their reasons on alleged high administration fees charged…
Officers of the Lagos State Police Command have fired teargas to disperse protesters rallying to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest. Videos seen on Sunday morning showed protesters fleeing as the police fired shots. The protesters had converged around 8:30 am at the toll gate with several banners and placards, calling for the full implementation of the reports submitted by various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests. In October 2020, thousands of youths gathered in major cities across the country to protest against the constant harassment, killings, and extortion by officers of the defunct…
Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, says his principal is well-rested following his annual leave, asking Nigerians to expect better days. Tinubu returned to Nigeria after leaving the country on October 2, 2024. Gbajabiamila who was among top government dignitaries who welcomed Tinubu on his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja on Saturday, said his principal is poised to “continue the good works” for Nigerians. “The kind of work he’s been doing in the last year and a half requires some rest and he’s gone on his back now and he’s well arrested, rejuvenated.…
A petrol tanker exploded at Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area, Jigawa State In a devastating incident on Wednesday morning, leading to the loss of lives of over 90 persons, with 50 others hospitalised. The explosion occurred around 12:30 AM when the driver of the tanker, travelling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University, Majiya. According to the Police Public Relations Officer of Jigawa State Command, DSP Lawan Adam, the disaster was triggered by residents who had rushed to scoop spilt petrol after the tanker overturned. “The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker…
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has debunked the report of planned impeachment against him, describing it as fake and a figment of the writer’s imagination. Akpabio spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in a statement, on Wednesday following online publications tagged “DSS Takes over National Assembly amid Impeachment Speculations against Senate President Akpabio.” He insisted that there was no crack in the Upper Chamber and no Senator or Caucus was plotting any impeachment against the President of the Senate, stressing that “every Senator is focused on raising the bar of Legislative Agenda…
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, says the Nigerian government desires the “ethical and responsible” use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to protect democracy. Mr Kalu spoke on Monday at the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Debate in Geneva, Switzerland, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Levinus Nwabughiogu. The IPU is a forum for parliamentarians, where lawmakers discuss global issues. The deputy speaker, who spoke on the theme: “Harnessing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future”, highlighted the critical role of AI in development but warned of the dangers of…