Author: statereporter
President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia called for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, warning that “the conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering.” Addressing the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, convened to address the current situation in the Middle East, President Tinubu expressed deep concern on the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The one-day summit was a follow-up to the Riyadh summit last year, and was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States. Reiterating Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire…
A counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, has reported that Lakurawas, a newly formed terrorist group, is offering significant financial incentives to lure youths in Sokoto State. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) recently declared nine suspected members of the Lakurawas group wanted. Edward Buba, the director of defence media operations, explained that this new terror group emerged from the Niger Republic following a recent coup that disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and the neighbouring country. Buba noted that the Lakurawas have been infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states, extending their influence from Niger Republic and…
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has officially signified her interest to run for a second term. This announcement positions her as the sole candidate for the WTO’s top position. The WTO formally began the process of appointing its next Director-General on October 8, allowing member countries until November 8 to submit nominations. In a message to members, the Chairman of the WTO General Council, Petter Olberg, disclosed that no additional nominations were received by the deadline. Olberg stated: “Under the procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509), I am required to communicate to members…
Amidst economic hardship and rising inflation in Nigeria, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has allocated N5 billion for the renovation of the vice president’s official residence in Lagos State. In November 2023, the Federal Government passed a N2.17 trillion supplementary budget, which earmarked N3 billion for renovations at the vice president’s Lagos residence and N2.5 billion for refurbishing his official quarters within the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. However, an analysis conducted by The PUNCH through GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks government expenditures, revealed that a total of N5,034,077,063 was spent on the Lagos residence renovations in…
Baltasar Engonga, the former Director-General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, has been remanded in custody at Malabo’s Black Beach Prison. Engonga’s arrest came shortly after reports surfaced accusing him of recording over 400 explicit videos involving the spouses of influential figures in the country. This revelation emerged amid an ongoing fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, prompting officials from ANIF to conduct an unannounced search of his residence and office. During the search, authorities reportedly uncovered numerous CDs containing footage of these encounters, The PUNCH reports. The leaked videos have ignited widespread public outrage and intense media scrutiny.…
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has declared his willingness to account for his eight-year tenure if required by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Speaking in Abuja at the EdoBEST National Results-Sharing Session, an event celebrating his administration’s achievements in education, Obaseki stated that he has nothing to fear and is ready to submit to any inquiries regarding his tenure. Obaseki, who has focused significantly on education reform during his administration, explained that he prioritized his work over political distractions. “I’m not afraid of the EFCC. Why should I be? What is important is focus,” he remarked. “If the…
The Bayelsa west representative at the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has admonished for positive leadership at all levels of authority. He made the call in Yenagoa while having an interactive session with constituents from his senatorial district, on 2nd November, after the Bayelsa state annual thanksgiving, that he enjoined Governor Douye Diri and People of Bayelsa at the state’s ecumenical centre, Yenagoa in appreciation to God. Senator Dickson reigned as Governor in Bayelsa state from February 14 2012 to February 14, 2020, as the first Governor to serve complete two terms and successfully handed over to Governor Douye…
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has backed President Bola Tinubu on the tax reform bill, forwarded to the National Assembly for legislative attention. State reporters revealed that Sani, in a statement on Thursday, urged the Nothern governors to rescind their decision on the tax bill, stressing it was not against or adverse to the interest of the North. The former lawmaker stated that the bill is one of President Tinubu’s bold moves to strengthen tax administration in Nigeria, in which its operations and enforcement are simplified. Sani urged the National Assembly to take the bill seriously,…
The 2024 US presidential election is heating up, with seven key battleground states taking center stage. These states, worth 93 electoral votes, have been the focus of the election since the beginning of the cycle. The contenders, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, are neck and neck in several states, making it anyone’s game. As of November 5, 2024, the polling averages show a tight race between Harris and Trump. The averages are based on the most recent polls from each state, with some states still too close to call. The seven battleground states are: -Arizona: A crucial state with 11…
Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and third prosecution witness in Ali Bello’s trial, testified on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. He confirmed that funds were delivered to him by agents of the Kogi State Government to cover school fees for the daughters of former governor Yahaya Bello. Under cross-examination by Ali Bello’s counsel, A.M. Aliyu SAN, Abdullahi clarified that each tranche of payment was exchanged for its cash dollar equivalent. “It was cash that was brought to my office for the payment of the school fees,” he…