
Author: Halimah Olamide
Halimah Olamide Holds a degree in History and Education. She also holds professional certificates in graphics and passionate about reporting issues of politics, economy, and gender
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has said that closing gender gaps has the potential to add N15 trillion to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Productivity (GDP) annually by 2025. Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the joint UN Accountability Forum and Orange/Lighting ceremony, themed: ” Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” She noted that studies had shown that countries with higher levels of gender equality experience faster economic growth, improved governance, and more stable societies. She said: “For Nigeria, closing gender gaps has the potential to add N15 trillion to our GDP…
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, has revealed that the Federal Government is funding 12 Renewed Hope Estates through the N50 billion allocation in the 2023 supplementary budget. Dangiwa, represented by Mr Salisu Haiba, Director Press and Public Relations in the ministry, said this at the 2024 conference of the Property and Environment Writers Association (PEWAN) in Lagos. The conference was themed, “Resolving the financial and regulatory dilemma to achieve Renewed Hope Agenda on Housing”. According to the minister, the ministry has been allocated an additional N27.2 billion in the 2024 budget to fully complete the…
The House of Representatives has on Thursday approved Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Army Staff. This is coming after a screening on Wednesday by the Joint Committees on Defence and Army in Abuja. The committee’s Chairman, Babajimi Benson, submitted the report during plenary and urged the House to confirm Oluyede; a prayer granted at the session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu. NPO also reports that President Bola Tinubu had in a letter sought for the confirmation of Oluyede as the Chief of Army Staff. Presenting the report for consideration, Benson said the committee believed…
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, ordered the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to produce two foreign nationals; Etienne Rocher and Pawan Kapur, alongside others, before it for arraignment. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order following the absence of the defendants in court to take their plea in the alleged N37.6 million fraud preferred against them by the police. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the I-G had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/504/2024, sued Tincan Island Container Terminal Ltd, Mr Rocher, Mr Kapur, and Maryam Olapade as 1st to 4th defendants respectively. Also joined…
Ahmed Ododo of Kogi, has appointed his Deputy, Mr Joel Salifu, as the Chairman of the state Human Capital Development Council (HCDC). This is contained in statement signed by Dr Arike Ayoade, Secretary to the Government of Kogi and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lokoja. According to the statement, the appointment followed the reconstitution of the Human Capital Development Council in accordance with established guidelines. “Other members appointed to the council include the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Idris Asiru, Commissioner of Health, Dr Adams Abdulzeez, and Commissioner of Education, Mr. Wemi Jones. “Also appointed…
Agency Report Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has sympathised with the management and staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) over Wednesday’s fire incident at Radio Nigeria Broadcasting House, Ikoyi. Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described the incident as unfortunate. The fire incident happened on Wednesday evening and affected two buildings, including control rooms and a studio. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) had confirmed that the fire started from an air conditioning unit and escalated. Sanwo-Olu…
The four tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu has scaled second reading at the Senate. The bills passed second reading after Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader of the senate, led a debate on them on Thursday. Bamidele said the bills would simplify the tax landscape, reduce the burden on small businesses, and streamline how taxes are collected. “It will eliminate double taxation. In the area of tax exemption of the salaries below the minimum wage,” the senate leader said. “It is proposed that the state governments share 55 percent of VAT from 15 percent. There is a reasonable effort…
•Harps on Specialization of Investigative Units, Commitment to Rule-of-Law. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the dissolution of the Kebbi State Criminal Investigation Bureau. This was contained in a statement by the Police Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday. According to him, the move is in furthered of the IGP’s vision to establish specialized investigative units within the Nigeria Police Force. It is also aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and professionalism of police officers attached to the section in the State. The IGP further directed all officers currently occupying positions within the Kebbi State CID to be…
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said it will improve airfield lightings and night operations at airports to match air passenger traffic. The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, gave the assurance at a business breakfast meeting hosted by the Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ASRTI) on Thursday in Lagos. The meeting was themed: “The Implementation of the Cape Town Practice Direction the Fortunes of Nigerian Airlines and the Economy”. Kuku said that with the implementation of the Cape Town Convention Agreement, more aircraft are expected in the market to curb flight delays. She said that airport runways …
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Akwa Ibom, has arrested three suspected drug dealers and impounded illicit drugs worth N500m. The Commanding Officer of the Base, Capt. Uche Aneke disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the contraband drugs and industrial chemicals to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Customs Service. Aneke said the suspects were arrested in a boat on Monday at about 11:50 am during a routine patrol around the Bendero and Uta Uyata general area. “The boat was laden with over 125 sacks of industrial chemicals (crystalline ammonia) and 62 cartons of different…