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The mass protest in Minna, Niger State, against rising food prices and worsening economic situation rattled the Bola Tinubu administration and partly influenced the decision of the president to issue marching orders to relevant officials to work out immediate measures to check rising food prices in the country. This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, after a meeting of the Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention on Tuesday in Abuja. He said that the president was concerned about the accessibility and affordability of food items across the nation. “The government is very concerned about…

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a two-week private visit to France. The jet, which conveyed the president back to the country, touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday night. He was received by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Some governors were also at the airport to welcome back the nation’s number one citizen. It is unclear why the president went to France, but the…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Olayemi Cardoso has attributed the recent increase in the dollar exchange rate to the rise in Nigerian students who study abroad, as well foreign medical trips embarked on by Nigerians. Cardoso spoke at the sectoral debate put together by the House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja. The apex bank’s boss said the high cost of living remains a concern, adding that the CBN was working to bring lasting solutions, and bring down the inflation to 21.4 per cent through improved agricultural productivity. “Volume on transactions on our market was over…

Hundreds of workers in the food, beverage and tobacco sector took to the streets of Lagos on Tuesday to cry out over the huge number of jobs that will be lost in the coming days as a result of the ban on sachet alcoholic drinks by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Agitating under the umbrella of the Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees, the workers, who displayed various placards and sang songs of solidarity in front of the Lagos office of NAFDAC, said that the…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused opposition parties of instigating protests to undermine President Bola Tinubu-led administration. Yesterday, protesters, including youths and women, blockaded major roads in Minna, the Niger State capital on Monday, to protest economic hardship in the country. There were also reports of similar incidents in Kano State. Reacting to the protest on Tuesday, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, alleged that the opposition instigated “unsuspecting young people” to protest in the streets. The statement read: “Opposition parties have resorted to instigating unsuspecting young people to protests in the streets of some major cities.…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, the brother of Hadi Sirika, the immediate past Aviation Minister over an alleged contract fraud in the aviation ministry. Abubakar was picked up by the anti-graft agency on Sunday, February 4 following an investigation in the Aviation Ministry. During his tenure as minister, Sirika faces allegations including conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering totaling N8,069,176,864. The Commission stated that the amount in question is related to four aviation contracts awarded by the former minister to a…

Aliji Ure Onuoha, daughter of Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex, OON, MFR, the Mayor of Ohafia local government area of Abia has been honoured by the US Army for her outstanding achievement. A medal of achievement from the US Army department says the honour is in recognition of Aliji’s achievement during the change of command inventory from 27 January through 2 February 2024. “Specialist Aliji Onuoha’s superlative effort and dedication to duty displayed her dedication to improving the readiness of the 300 Military Police Brigade. “Specialist Aliji Onuoha’s actions and dedication to duty reflects great credit upon herself, 300th…

Abia-North Senator and current Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization, Dr. Orji Kalu has expressed sadness over the passing of former Governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim. While acknowledging the contributions of the late politician to nation building in various capacities, Kalu noted that the late former Governor was a consummate politician and compassionate leader. The former two term Abia Governor commiserated with the government and people of Yobe state, adding that the late politician will be remembered for his good deeds. In a condolence message, Kalu urged the family of the deceased to sustain his worthy legacy. He…

Chief Kalu Idika Okwara Hails Dr. Chidia Madukwe’s Tenure As MD Of Nigerian Film Corporation Immediate-past Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Chidia Madukwe, has continued to enjoy the dividends of his successful stewardship as the head of the agency. The Vice President of Ohafia Improvement Union (OIU) Abuja Branch, Chief Kalu Idika Okwara in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, applauded Dr. Madukwe for all the transformations he brought to the sector for the time he spent as the film corporation boss. Chief Kalu Idika Okwara described Madukwe as a national asset that deserved all…

Just when the presidency took the wind out of the sails of the opposition from the North to the relocation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN and some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, through a reassuring statement that the capital remains in Abuja, another development surfaced to ensure that the issue remains on the front burner. According to the Katsina Elders Forum, last Thursday, contractors renovating the Yar’Adua International Airport were ordered to stop work and move their equipment to Enugu, Lagos or Calabar, all in the South. Secretary of the Forum, Aliyu Mohammed, in…