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The Conference of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability (COCTA) An umbrella body of over CSO,s has commended the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, for his commitment to transparency and accountability in revolutionizing farming practices in Nigeria. In a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, COCTA praised the Ministry's initiatives aimed at: Ensuring food sufficiency, empowering stakeholders and creating employment opportunities for youths in the agricultural sector The communiqué, signed by National Coordinator Comrade Olumuyiwa Onlede and Haruna Abdulsalam, Director of Communication & Advocacy , acknowledged the Minister's…

President Bola Tinubu has assented the North-West and South-East Development Commission Bills into law, thereby setting the stage for the establishment of the two interventionist agencies to address development challenges in the North-West and South-East parts of the country, respectively, following years of insecurity. The Deputy President of the Senate and sponsor of the North-West Development Commission Bill, Senator Jibrin Barau, disclosed the presidential assent to the Bill during a chat with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday night. Similarly, the chief press secretary (CPS) to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Levinus Nwabughiogu, took to his Facebook page…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has issued a public apology to Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for the comment he made at the Senate plenary last week, suggesting that the latter was speaking “like she was in a nightclub.” The incident occurred when Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke without being recognised by the Senate President. Speaking on the floor of the red chamber on Tuesday following a backlash, Akpabio expressed regret for his remark and emphasised his respect for women. “I will not intentionally denigrate any woman and I always pray that God will uplift women,” he stated. Akpabio noted that both his phone…

Fifty-eight of the 164 member states of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) members have voiced support for a proposal from the African Group backing incumbent Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to serve a second term. The 58 member countries of the trade association made this known at a July 22 meeting of the WTO General Council, according to a statement by the world trade body. “The African Group requests that the current Director-General make herself available to serve a second term, and has proposed that the process of reappointing the Director-General should be started as soon as possible,” the statement partly…

Mele Kyari, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, says he does not own a blending plant in Malta, adding that he does not know of any employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited who owns such a facility in the island country in Europe. Kyari, in a Tuesday post on X (formerly Twitter), asked the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to publicly declare NNPC personnel who operate a blending plant in Malta. Over the weekend, Dangote, Africa’s richest man and the owner of a $20bn refinery in Lagos, said some NNPC personnel and oil traders operate a blending plant…

By Kenneth Udeh, Abuja The lawmaker representing Imo East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ezenwa Onyewuchi has dumped the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Majority Leader at the Senate, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, announced Onyewuchi’s defection at plenary on Tuesday. Onyewuchi defected to the ruling party under the presence of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma who was present in the Hallowed Chambers after he was granted entry in line with the Senate rules. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Onyewuchi’s letter of defection which he addressed to the APC. In his letter, Onyewuchi said that he has resigned…

No fewer than 180 members of the House of Representatives have adopted a motion moved by the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of Abia State, Hon. Obi Aguocha calling for the immediate release of embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The parliamentarians are comprised of the minority caucus led by a Rivers lawmaker, Hon. Kingsley Chinda. Others include, Hon. Ali Isa the Minority Whip, Hon. Aliyu Madaki the Deputy Minority Leader and Hon. George Ozodinobi, the Deputy Minority Whip. Hon Obi Aguocha who made the appeal to the caucus of the 10th House of Representatives…

The Federal Government has weighed into the rift between Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The crucial meeting was convened by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, with key leaders from Dangote Industries, NMDPRA, NUPRC, and NNPC According to Goldmyte TV, present at the meeting include: Mr. Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and Mr. Mele Kyari, Group Chief…

A member of the Kano State House of Assembly, Abdul-Majid Umar was on Saturday attacked by a mob at an event attended by the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero. The incident occurred during an annual prayer for peace and stability organised at Isyaka Rabiu’s residence in the Goron Dutse area of Kano. Umar, who is the lawmaker representing Gwale local government area under the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), was seated beside the deposed emir at the event. According to Leadership, tensions rose after the lawmaker left the venue with some people accusing him of supporting the bill…

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has shared that a wealthy friend who had previously advised him against investing in Nigeria is now taunting him for ignoring his advice. This disclosure came amid reports that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) criticised the quality of diesel from the Dangote Refinery. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Dangote reflected on the advice he received four years ago from a friend who chose to invest abroad due to concerns over policy inconsistencies and interest group shenanigans in Nigeria. “Four years ago, one of my very wealthy friends began…