Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mariya Mahmoud, has vowed to improve the welfare of FCT Administration (FCTA) workers. She made this known in an address on Thursday at a dinner and award ceremony honouring retired management staff of the FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority, who retired between January and March. The minister, represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Mr Abdullahi Kauramata, at the event held in Abuja, stated that improved welfare would boost workers’ commitment. “These ceremonies will help foster a sense of unity and strengthen friendships within the…

Agency Report The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has disbursed N65 million grant to 1,300 women petty traders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mrs Tinubu explained during the event in Abuja on Thursday, that each of the women would receive N50,000 to grow and recapitalise their businesses. The first Lady was represented at the event by Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCT Administration. She said that the grant was to assist women petty traders in overcoming some of their business challenges, expand their businesses, create more jobs, and contribute more robustly to the nation`s economy. She…

Safiu Kehinde The Federal Government has given an estimate of over N16 trillion needed for the completion of inherited road projects. This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, while addressing the press in Abuja yesterday on the achievement of the ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Umahi, who alongside other ministers marked their one year in office earlier this week, recalled the contracts and unfinished road projects inherited when their administration came to power. He revealed that the present administration inherited a total of 18,932.50 kilometres of ongoing road projects, with a…

Safiu Kehinde A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has, today, discharged six #EndSARS protesters detained since 2020. The six protesters identified as Daniel Joyinbo, Adigun Sodiq, Kehinde Shola, Salaudeen Kamilu, Sodiq Useni, and Azeez Isiaka, were discharged having found guilty by Magistrate, Mrs. Bola Osunsanmi. They were arrested and charged with breach of public peace during the 2020 #EndSARS protests. According to the Director for Public Prosecution, Babajide Martins, the convicts committed the offence on the 23rd of November, 2020 at Ebute-Metta area of Lagos. The defendants pleaded guilty of the single count charge in a plea bargain agreement…

Safiu Kehinde First Bank Group and the Nigerian Conservative Foundation (NCF) have extended their tree planting project to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The tree planting initiative, as contained in a statement issued by First Bank earlier today, is part of the banks 2024 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability week, which began on Monday. Leading the tree planting exercise in Abuja, Aishatu Bubaram, the Group Executive, Commercial Banking, North, emphasized the bank’s commitment to planting 50,000 trees nationwide in an effort to promote environmental conservation. “The essence of planting these trees is environmental conservation. These are economic trees that we believe…

Safiu Kehinde The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, has disclosed N12 billion loss by ginger famers to epidemic disease in 2023. Abdullahi made this disclosure at the Agricultural Insurance train – the – trainer workshop held today in Abuja. The disease identified as ginger blight left Kaduna ginger farmers counting their loss following its outbreak in 2023. Narrating the 2023 experience, Abdullahi said that the farmers lost over 90 per cent of their total harvest for the season while only few of the farmers who registered with the ministry’s insurance protection scheme were awarded monetary…

Safiu Kehinde Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola has retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Having reach the mandatory 70 years retirement age, Ariwoola bowed out of the judicial seat today, bringing to an end his 43 years law career. Ariwoola was appointed as the new CJN on 27th June 2022, following the retirement of his predecessor Tanko Muhammed. He is, however, set to be succeeded by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who was nominated for the position last week. Ariwoola retired as the 22nd Chief Justice of Nigeria. He was called to bar in July 1981. Prior to his rise to the position…

Safiu Kehinde Suspected Bandits who killed Emir of Gobir, Isa Bawa, has released his son after collecting N60 million ransom. The late Sokoto Monarch’s son, Surajo Isa, confirmed the release of his brother who was abducted alongside father last month. According to Surajo, the bandits demanded and received a ransom of ₦60 million along with five motorcycles before releasing his brother. “He came back from the bandits’ den around 8:30 pm,” Surajo said. Meanwhile, the released son of the deceased monarch, disclosed that his father was buried in the forest by the bandits after his death. The District Head’s murder…

Agency Report Justice Sylvanus Oriji of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned hearing in the FCT minister ‘s motion on the restriction order on participants of the hunger protest until Sept. 4. The adjournment came after counsel to the FCT minister (claimant), Moses Ebute, SAN told the court that he served the motion on notice on the respondents. The counsel to 1st to 4th respondents, Dr S.M Oyeghe did not oppose but asked for the motion to be served on them in the court. The other respondents were not present in court nor legally represented. Justice Oriji,…

Agency Report Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, says the 2025 budget for State House agencies will be based on needs assessment. He said this was to ensure that funding allocated to agencies were based on actual requirements. Gbajabiamila spoke to the newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, following a one-day fact finding tour of some government agencies under the supervision of the State House. “In any country in the world, resources are limited. For us it is about prioritising. Where are we so far? What have the agencies done? “How have they measured up to their mandates…