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A bill to alter the 1999 Constitution as amended to create Aba State in the South-East passed through first reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday. The bill is sponsored by Hon. Hon. Ginger Onwusibe of Isialangwa North/Isialangwa South Federal Constituency and three other lawmakers from Abia state. They include Hon. Munachim Alozie (Osisioma/Ugwunagbo/Obingwa Federal Constituency) Hon. Chris Nkwonta (Ukwa East/ Ukwa West Federal Constituency) and Hon. Ifeanyi Ikwechegh, representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency. The proposed Aba State will have 9 local government areas. The local government to be affected are Aba North, Aba South, Isiala Ngwa North,…

A Northern Nigerian sociopolitical group under the auspices of Arewa Next Generation Leaders has slammed the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, describing them as rubber stamp, ineffective and too slow. The group said it is a sign of failure for the National Assembly not to have checkmated the executive to implement the capital components of the 2024 budget. The group in statement by Mallam Nasiru Muh’d on Thursday in Kaduna, said it was a total shame and total embarrassment for the country to be operating three different budgets in 2024, without implementing the capital components of the 2024 budget.…

The Supreme Court has delivered judgment in the suit instituted by the Federal Government against the 36 state governors of the federation on local government autonomy. In the suit, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), sought full autonomy and direct fund allocation to the 774 local governments in the country. He asked the apex court to invoke sections 1, 4, 5, 7 and 14 of the constitution to declare that the governors and state houses of assembly are under obligation to ensure democratically elected systems at the third tier. In its lead judgement…

The lawmaker representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has urged investors to take advantage of the conducive environment in the Federal Constituency, and Abia State at large to invest in areas of their choice. According to the lawmaker, investors and potential investors can invest in the opportunities that abound in Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State. The lawmaker, who made the call when he visited the Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Mohsen Antit, at the Tunisian Embassy on Wednesday in Abuja. He described Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency as an investment destination with several…

The Petroleum Retail Owners Association of Nigeria (PROAN) said true open market price for petroleum is between N1500- N1950, but Nigerians will not be able to afford it. The President of the association, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry disclosed this in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday. Gillis-Harry warned against pegging Nigeria’s petroleum prices to the international market, stating, “If you land your product (fuel) within the range of N1500-N1950, obviously Nigerians can’t afford to buy that. So there’s no need to even try.” He pointed out that the average global price of a litre of fuel is about a dollar…

A drug baron on the wanted list of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency identified as Joachin Mbonu, has been arrested. Mbonu was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA in his village mansion in Imo state on July 5. A statement on Tuesday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Mbonu was arrested along with his associate. He stated that Mbonu belongs to a drug cartel behind the production of methamphetamine. Babafemi said, “ A major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ has been taken down by operatives of the…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has ordered the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to refund money to over-billed 1,011,402 customers in the Southeastern Nigeria within the period of January to September, 2023 through overestimation. At the billing cycle for energy consumed in February 2024, NERC said EEDC shall credit the accounts for all customers that were over-billed between January to September 2023 based on the Commission’s assessment as contained in Schedule 1. The Nigerian electricity regulator also lamented that the persistent non-compliance with the order on capping of estimated bills by the EEDC for the period January-September 2023 had led…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated N1.02 trillion at its Apapa Area Command in the first half of the year. The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos on Monday. He said that the figure represented a 143 per cent increase over the N421.38 billion generated during the same period in 2023. Mr Olomu highlighted that the agency’s efforts at promoting and facilitating trade were yielding significant results. “Our efforts have been mainly targeted at preventing revenue losses, improving ease of doing business, and engaging stakeholders,” Mr Olomu said. He noted…

Super Eagles striker Olarenwaju Kayode has urged a Federal Capital Territory High Court to dissolve his marriage to his estranged wife, Ezinne, stating that it has broken down irretrievably. The European-based footballer who is also seeking custody of their children, urged the court to order UK-based pastor Tobi Adegboyega to pay him ₦1bn in damages for the emotional trauma, financial loss, and loss of goodwill caused by his “adulterous affair” with Ezinne. Olarenwaju and Ezinne have been engaged in a marital battle following allegations of infidelity, among other issues. The matter took another twist when Ezinne instituted legal action against…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has announced measures to tackle the skyrocketing food prices nationwide. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the measures would be implemented over the next 180 days. “A 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for food commodities which includes; suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders." The commodities the government is prioritising to benefit from this include: Maize, Husked Brown Rice, Wheat and Cowpeas. The statement from the minister further noted that “Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected…