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The police command in Oyo has arrested Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of Ooni of Ife, and seven others in connection with the stampede at carnival in Ibadan. The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun area of Ibadan. The event, which was organised by the Wings Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that supports women and girls, was meant to cater to 5,000 attendees. The flier for the event reads: “Children Funfair with Queen/Prophetess Naomi Silekunola O”. In a statement on Thursday, Osifeso Adewale, Oyo police spokesperson, said 35 children have died as a result of…

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has ordered the revocation of 762 plots of land belonging to individuals and corporate organisations. Public notices issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday said the affected groups failed to pay their certificates of occupancy (C-of-O) for the confiscated plots. Wike also threatened to withdraw the rights of occupancy (R-of-O) of 614 other individuals and companies if they failed to pay outstanding bills for their plots within two weeks. The plots are located in the highbrow Maitama district of the nation’s capital. The confiscations come two weeks after…

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has ordered the revocation of 762 plots of land belonging to individuals and corporate organisations. Public notices issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday said the affected groups failed to pay their certificates of occupancy (C-of-O) for the confiscated plots. Wike also threatened to withdraw the rights of occupancy (R-of-O) of 614 other individuals and companies if they failed to pay outstanding bills for their plots within two weeks. The plots are located in the highbrow Maitama district of the nation’s capital. The confiscations come two weeks after…

Dangote Refinery Crashes Petrol Prices Leaving Importers Reeling   Dangote Refinery has announced a significant reduction in petrol prices, with rates dropping to as low as N899 per litre for two million litres. This move marks a continued effort by the refinery to stabilise the market and enhance supply to marketers. According to Arise News, it emerged that the new pricing structure offers petrol at N899.5 per litre for cash purchases of two million liters, with an additional two million liters available on a bank guarantee valid for 15 days from Access, Zenith, and First Bank. For higher volumes, marketers…

Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has said the release of Nnamdi Kanu may not address growing insecurity in Nigeria’s South-east. According to Punch newspaper, Mr Soludo spoke during Tuesday’s press briefing at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia. Mr Kanu, facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB is a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria The IPOB leader has been in detention since he was repatriated to Nigeria…

In what could pass as comic relief during the serious business of budget presentation on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu jocularly referred to a joint session of the 10th National Assembly as the 11th National Assembly. Christened the ‘Budget of Restoration’, the President presented his second budget estimate of N47.9tn before members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Tinubu started his 30-minute presentation at 12:40pm amid cheers from lawmakers, many of whom are members of his All Progressives Congress (APC). Tinubu’s presentation followed a speech by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. “In fulfilment to one of my constitutional duties and…

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPROVES EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT FOR RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Executive Management of 12 River Basin Development Authorities under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. OGUN-OSUN RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, ABEOKUTA (Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun): 1. Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun - Chairman (Oyo) 2. Engr. Dr. Adedeji Ashiru - Managing Director (Osun) 3. Ayo Oyalowo - Executive Director, Finance (Oyo) 4. Dokunmu Olufemi Oyekunle - Executive Director, Planning and Design (Ogun) 5. S u l e i m a n Oris - Executive Director, Agric Services…

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti Will Return To APC, Says Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has described Abia State Governor Alex Otti as a “prodigal son,” suggesting that he would eventually return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Keyamo made this remark during his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abia International Airport in Nsulu, Abia State. He pointed out that Otti, who had moved from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to APC in 2020, later switched to the Labour Party and went on to win the 2023 gubernatorial election on…

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has said the South-East has lost an estimated N17.4 trillion in the past 29 years due to the absence of a sixth state, which would have contributed significantly to federal allocations and local government revenue accruing to the region. Chidoka said this staggering figure, adjusted for inflation and devaluation, highlights the region’s ongoing economic and political marginalisation, with profound implications for representation, federal receipts, and governance. This is just as the apex Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has also backed the call for action on the creation of the sixth state in…

National Assembly Extends Lifespan Of 2024 Budget To 2025 The National Assembly has approved an extension of the 2024 Budget’s lifespan to June 2025, ensuring continuity in fiscal operations and the seamless execution of key government projects. The announcement was made by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, during the joint sitting of the National Assembly for the presentation of the 2025 budget proposal by President Bola Tinubu. Commending Tinubu’s Reform Agenda Senator Akpabio praised President Tinubu for his bold reforms, which have been central to advancing Nigeria’s economic and developmental goals. Highlighting the Tax Reform Bill, the Nigerian…