Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has appealed to residents to put aside bitterness, rivalry, and self-interest in order to sustain peace and development. He made the call on Sunday during an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt, to mark the state’s transition back to democratic governance following the recent local council elections. Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March during the six-month emergency rule, said the state had been plagued by “divisions, instability and broken trust” before the intervention. He noted that his administration deliberately sowed “seeds of love and peace”…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to faith leaders to work with his administration in building a stronger economy and tackling poverty. Speaking at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Tinubu said religious organisations remain “a vital bridge for peace, unity and moral renewal.” Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu pledged closer collaboration with faith-based institutions in education, healthcare, skills training and social welfare. Government Reforms and Economic Challenges The President noted that his government’s reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification and efforts to block…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the appointment of Mrs Nancy Sabanti Nathan as the Acting Head of Service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The appointment follows the death of Mrs Grace Adayilo, who until last week Monday served as the FCTA Head of Service. According to a statement by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Nathan will hold the position in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Head of Service. Before her new role, Nathan was the Permanent Secretary of the Youth Development…

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has warned governments at all levels against reckless borrowing, stressing that debt must serve development, not consumption. Abbas, represented by Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, spoke at the opening of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC) annual conference in Abuja. He said strong parliamentary oversight is key to safeguarding Nigeria’s financial future. Abbas raised concern over Nigeria’s rising debt profile, noting that the country’s total public debt climbed to N149.39 trillion (US$97 billion) in Q1 2025. This marks a sharp increase from N121.7 trillion in 2024. He added that Nigeria’s…

President of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), Jackson Ifeanyi Nwosu, has expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, PhD, CFR, for the timely intervention in resolving the contractors’ protest over unpaid dues. In a letter of appreciation he personally signed and addressed to the Deputy Speaker, Nwosu thanked Kalu for his thoughtful approach, which led to a meeting with key stakeholders, including the Finance Minister, Wale Edun and Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamshudeen Ogunjimi. Recall that on the heels of the protests in Abuja last week over unpaid fees…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has restated its commitment to the welfare of troops at the frontline, while urging them to remain focused on their duty of protecting civilians from bandits and insurgents. The charge was delivered on September 3, 2025, during the commissioning of worship centres and other welfare projects at the 4135 Force Protection Wing in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State ; an area that has faced repeated attacks by bandits in recent years. The new projects include worship centres for both Christians and Muslims, a Mini-Mart, and a Quarter Guard Stand. According to NAF, they are part of…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has stepped in to end the standoff between the Federal Government and indigenous contractors, bringing relief after weeks of tension. The contractors, who have been owed for months, had staged a protest in Abuja earlier in the week, demanding payment for executed projects. Their action raised fears of disruptions to government activities, as many of them handle key infrastructure works. Following his appointment as Chairman of the House Special Committee on Budget Implementation by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Kalu convened a crucial meeting on Thursday with over 80 contractors and their…

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has faulted the police for stopping a planned meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders in Kaduna, describing the action as a violation of the Constitution. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday, barely a week after suspected thugs attacked an opposition gathering in the state. During that incident, political leaders from ADC, PDP, SDP, NNPP, and LP were assaulted with cutlasses and clubs, leaving several people injured and properties destroyed. Many had blamed the police for failing to act. Speaking at a press conference in his Kaduna residence, El-Rufai said the ADC…

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to appoint ambassadors nearly two years after assuming office. Akinyemi described the situation as “unusual” and said the president owes Nigerians a clear explanation. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, the former minister said the absence of ambassadors undermines Nigeria’s foreign relations and sends the wrong signal to other nations. “I think the President owes us really an explanation. There must be something there, and that makes it difficult for me to explain. Well, it’s not my job to explain. It’s the…

The Ebonyi State government has placed a ban on graduation ceremonies for pre-nursery, nursery, and primary school pupils in the state. Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Donatus Ilang, announced the decision in Abakaliki, saying only students completing JSS3 and SS3 will be allowed to hold graduation ceremonies. “Graduation ceremonies are exclusively reserved for pupils and students who have successfully completed basic education (JSS3) and Senior Secondary (SS3). In view of the above, pre-basic (kindergarten/nursery) and Primary 6 are banned from holding graduation ceremonies forthwith,” Ilang stated. He explained that the move is part of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s ongoing education…