Author: Lawan

Bende: N1bn appropriation not for musical instruments alone – Dep Speaker The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that the N1 billion appropriation for churches, in Bende Federal Constituency, in the 2026 budget, is not solely for the procurement of musical instruments. Kalu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, yesterday, stated that the budget is earmarked as a youth re-orientation and social support programme delivered with evangelistic approach through faith-based organisations in the federal constituency.He explained that 130 churches in the 13 wards in Bende Federal Constituency are expected to get…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged members of the Ibru family to preserve their unity and build on the values established by the family’s founders, saying doing so would ensure that one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous business legacies continues to endure across generations. Obasanjo made the call in Lagos yesterday at the launch of ‘The Ibru Story: An Account of a Pioneering Nigerian Business Family,’ a book chronicling the history, achievements and evolution of the Ibru family from its early beginnings to one of Africa’s leading indigenous business groups.Describing the late Olorogun Michael Ibru as a leader who united his…

Cardoso: Naira needs competition, not protection •Says inflation fight on track despite global shocks•CBN retains interest rates, banks’ reserve requirement Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has stated that the naira must remain market-driven and competitive rather than being artificially supported.This comes as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN kept interest rates unchanged and reaffirmed their commitment to bringing inflation into single digits despite mounting geopolitical risks. Cardoso’s remarks came after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had said last month that the naira remains significantly undervalued despite recent gains against the United States dollar across official…

NIHSA raises flood alarm in 17 states, orders immediate evacuation The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has placed 17 states on medium flood alert, warning of possible localised flooding between July 21 and July 27 and urging residents in vulnerable communities to relocate immediately. In a National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) issued yesterday, the agency said rising water levels at critical river monitoring stations had exceeded warning thresholds, increasing the likelihood of flooding along major river channels and floodplains.Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHSA, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, said the agency’s hydrological monitoring network showed that river stages at…

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has expressed confidence that Nigeria will one day elect a president and vice-president on a Christian-Christian ticket, insisting that the country’s Constitution does not require religious balancing in presidential tickets or political appointments. Sule made the remarks on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today while responding to criticism by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over issues of political representation. Dismissing the criticism, the governor said it was expected from an opposition politician. “I think it is normal for Senator Kwankwaso, whom I respect a lot, to say that…

CBN confirms opening PFIPC accounts on Accountant-General’s directive The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that it opened two domiciliary accounts linked to the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) following a directive from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), but insisted that the accounts were never funded or operated. The disclosure was made on Monday by the Director of Banking Services at the CBN, Abdullahi Hamisu, while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the legal basis, operations and budgetary allocation of the PFIPC, including the N1.3 billion appropriated to the…

2027: Why Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is dead on arrival in Kano – Ganduje Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed the prospects of a Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring that such an alliance would fail to gain support in Kano State. Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the former Kano State governor said the proposed ticket, expected to run on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lacked the political strength, leadership credentials and governance record required to secure victory in the state. “I don’t think Peter Obi…

Isaac Fayose has said his elder brother, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, deserves a more prominent federal appointment than the newly announced chairmanship of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Reacting in a video shared on his Instagram page on Monday, Isaac argued that the former governor’s political experience and influence made him better suited for positions such as minister or ambassador rather than heading the board of a federal agency.“They said they gave my brother DG, not a minister, not ambassador. They gave him chairman of a parastatal. They couldn’t give him minister, they couldn’t give him ambassador,” he…

Troops of Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have foiled a terrorist mission aimed at extorting residents in Yobe State, dealing another blow to Boko Haram/ISWAP networks and denying them access to illicit sources of funding. The statement was signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri. The operation followed credible intelligence on the movement of two Volkswagen Golf vehicles and motorcycles allegedly conveying Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to collect illegal levies from communities. Acting on the intelligence, troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bukarti, in collaboration with the…

ICPC: Gbajabiamila Honoured Invitation, Not Arrested Over PFIPC Probe The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, visited its headquarters in Abuja to make a statement in connection with the ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). In a statement issued by its media team, the Commission said Gbajabiamila’s appearance was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that the ICPC investigate the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC, an entity the Presidency has disowned as fraudulent. According to the Commission, the purported…