Author: Safiu Kehinde

Safiu Kehinde Super Eagles have apologized to Nigerians over their horrific performance which saw them succumb to a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda at the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final qualifiers match. Having already sealed a spot for the bi-annual tournament set to hold in Morocco, Nigerians expected the Super Eagles to put an icing in the cake by defeating Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Akwa-Ibom, yesterday. To the dismay of their football loving supporters, the Super Eagles ended their qualifiers campaign with a humiliating defeat to Rwanda. However, the national team has, on Tuesday,…

Safiu Kehinde The remains of late Nigerian lawmaker, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, has arrived the National Assembly complex. Prior to his death which was announced on the 27th of July 2024, Ubah represented Anambra South at the Senate. The lawmakers are, however, set to honour their colleague as the casket bearing his remains is lying-in-state at the foyer of the White House wing of the Nation Assembly Complex. There is only one item on the order paper for today titled: “Valedictory Session.” Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central) would upon commencement of plenary move a motion: “That the Senate…

Safiu Kehinde President Bola Tinubu has written to the National Assembly, seeking approval of a fresh N1.767tn external borrowing plan in the 2024 appropriation act. Tinubu’s request was read by the speaker during plenary on Tuesday. The loan, if approved, will reportedly be used to part-finance the budget deficit of N9.7trillion for the 2024 budget. In the same vein, the president also forwarded the MTEF/ FSP 2025- 2027 to parliament and the National Social Investment Programme establishment amendment bill, to make the social register the primary tool for the implementation of the federal government’s social welfare programmes. This is as…

Safiu Kehinde The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the implementation of N70,000 national minimum wage for workers of the FCT Administration. This was announced by the acting Head of Civil Service in the FCT, Grace Adayilo, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja. She said that the minister also approved the payment of three months arrears. Adayilo explained that the move was part of the minister’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of FCTA workers. “The gesture will further spur workers of the administration to support the minister’s efforts toward delivering the Renewed…

Agency Report Some residents of Kogi, Niger and Nasarawa states have advocated states government and private sector investment in the establishment of Independent Mini Power Grids to boost electricity supply in Nigeria. This, they say, would help address the incessant collapse of the national power grid and its negative impact on the nation’s economy. The stakeholders made the call during a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday. Mr Joseph Adedayo, an Energy Expert in Lokoja, Kogi, said that the establishment of independent mini power grids would greatly minimise power failure in the country. He noted…

Safiu Kehinde An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, has on Tuesday, ordered the remand of one James Gabriel, 37, over alleged sexual assault on an eight-year-old girl. The Magistrate, E. Kubeinje, who did not take the plea of Gabriel, ordered his remand at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre until his trial on Dec. 19. According to the prosecutor, Insp John Iberedem, the defendant committed the offence on July 11, at Sanyaolu Street, Oworoshoki, Lagos. Iberedem alleged that the Gabriel sexually assaulted the eight-year-old girl, name withheld. This, according to the prosecutor, contravened the provisions of Sections 261, 263 (1)of the Criminal Laws…

Safiu Kehinde Retirees of Chevron Nigeria Ltd have, on Tuesday, stormed the multi-national oil company’s Lagos headquarters in protest of delayed payment of pensions. In what they termed as grievances, the retirees were spotted carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “We say no to dissolution of CNCPFA”, “Chevron stop discrimination against retirees”, “Nigeria is a sovereign nation: respect our laws above your policies”, “Chevron, treat us like other IOCs. Be considerate for once!”. Some took turns to relay their unapproved delay in payment of their pensions, among others. They also lamented over the outsourcing of their pension fund, demanding…

Turkish air strikes in drought-struck north-east Syria have cut off access to electricity and water for more than a million people, in what experts say may be a violation of international law. Turkey carried out more than 100 attacks between October 2019 and January 2024 on oil fields, gas facilities and power stations in the Kurdish-held Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), according to data collated by the BBC World Service. The attacks have added to the humanitarian crisis in a region reeling from a years-long civil war and four years of extreme drought exacerbated by climate change.…

A Hong Kong court has sentenced key pro-democracy leaders to years in jail for subversion, following a controversial national security trial. Benny Tai and Joshua Wong were among the so-called Hong Kong 47 group of activists and lawmakers involved in a plan to pick opposition candidates for local elections. Tai received 10 years while Wong received more than four years. A total of 45 people were found guilty of conspiring to attempt subversion, after two people were acquitted. Their trial marked the largest use of the harsh national security law (NSL) which China imposed on Hong Kong shortly after the…

Agency Report The Cross River Government is planning to generate about 120MW from combined sources in a bid to ensure steady and reliable power supply across the state. The state Commissioner for Power, Mr Eka Wiliams, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Tuesday. The commissioner listed the sources of energy to include Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), hydro, windmill, biomass and solar. He said that the target would be realised within one year to two years. Williams said that the state already had two power plants with a combined installed capacity…