Author: statereporter

Nigerian government is taking steps to strengthen laws and regional protocols aimed at facilitating the return of stolen artifacts. This move was announced by the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, at the 6th annual general assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in Africa (NACIWA). The EFCC chairman emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration among anti-corruption agencies in the region to combat corruption. The meeting, themed “Implementing the Ecowas Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption Towards Strengthening Institutions for Regional Unity,” brought together representatives from 14 member countries, including Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim…

The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State, Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola, has proposed that universities should require newly admitted students to undergo mandatory drug tests as part of their admission process. She explained that this would “Serve as a preventive measure while offering early intervention and counselling for those already using drugs to prevent them from becoming problematic users”. Hajia Abiola-Popoola disclosed this during a radio programme in Ilorin monitored by our correspondent. The NDLEA boss further expressed concern over the rising number of drug users in the country, particularly among females. She warned that this…

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeals filed by Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the 2023 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Ajaka and Sylva challenged the declarations made by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on the outcome of the elections in their respective states. The Supreme Court’s decision to delay judgment comes after the Appeal Court upheld the tribunal judgments in both cases. In Kogi State, Ajaka alleged irregularities and manipulations in the Appeal Court’s judgment, which upheld the election of Ahmed Usman…

Federal Government has announced that it will begin selling crude oil to local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, in naira starting from October 1, 2024. This decision was made public by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, during a meeting with the Implementation Committee on Monday. The move is aimed at stabilizing the pump price of refined fuel and the dollar-naira exchange rate. The Federal Executive Council had previously approved the proposal to halt the sale of crude oil to local refineries in foreign currency and instead offer 450,000 barrels meant for domestic consumption…

Abia State Government has announced one positive case of monkeypox. Announcing the news on Monday, August 19, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said that there were 13 suspected cases, one of which was positive, nine negative cases and three uncertified with no death recorded yet. According to Kanu, the case of monkey pox was recorded in Isiala Ngwa local government area. He stated that Abia has opened centres, including Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, adding that more centres would be announced soon.

Police operatives in Ogun State have arrested a 34-year-old suspected cultist, Adekunle Adebajo aka Kunle Polly, over his alleged involvement in the killing of a member of a suspected rival cult group in Ijebu Ode. The deceased, known as Mosquito, was reportedly hacked to death recently with his left hand cut off and taken away. The command’s spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, in a statement on Saturday said that on August 12, a concerned citizen made a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer in Igbeba that rival cult members engaged one another where Mosquito was shot, macheted and his left…

The recent announcement by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) that it recorded a 7.69 percent decrease in the performance of candidates who sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria reaffirms the worrying lack of investment in the critical areas of development, education, health and pulling people out of poverty. The report reads in part, “Compared to last year’s 79.81 percent, WAEC said the percentage of candidates who obtained credits and above a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics this year, is 72.12 percent.” This constant decline in our educational performance…

The report which is based on a forecast from NNPC, obtained by the newspaper, indicated that the total petrol subsidy expenses from August 2023 to December 2024 will amount to N6.884 trillion, leaving the company unable to remit N3.987 trillion in taxes and royalties to the federation account. Despite many denials by the Nigerian government on non-payment of fuel subsidies, President Bola Tinubu has given approval to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to use the 2023 final dividends owed to the federation to cover the cost of petrol subsidies, BusinessDay reports. The president reportedly approved a halt on…

The race to succeed Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has intensified as his retirement date approaches. Egbetokun, who was appointed to the position on June 19, 2023, is set to retire on September 4, when he turns 60. However, uncertainty looms over whether the IGP will retire as scheduled or receive an extension of service, following the recent amendment to the Police Act. The amendment, passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on July 31, 2024, allows the President to extend the tenure of the Inspector General beyond the mandatory 35 years of service or 60 years…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly under pressure to contest the 2027 presidential election. State reportsers reveals that the pressure on the former president, Jonathan, is coming from Northern political class, who are aggrieved with President Bola Tinubu’s policies credited to be responsible for the current hardship in the country. Some Northern political stakeholders said Jonathan would be the best choice considering he would only do a single four-year term. Sources told State reporters, that the former president under PDP had more plans for the North during his administration than former President, Muhammadu Buhari and current President, Bola Tinubu. “Consequently,…