Author: Ugochukwu Oha-Ema

In a move to finance the 2024 budget deficit, President Bola Tinubu has written to the National Assembly, seeking approval for a fresh N1.767 trillion external borrowing plan. This loan is based on an exchange rate of N800 to $1, as stated by the President. *Breakdown of the Borrowing Plan* – The loan will part-finance the budget deficit of N9.7 trillion for the 2024 budget. – The Federal Executive Council (FEC) previously approved a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan as part of the Federal Government’s 2024 Appropriation Act financing program. – Nigeria’s external debt may increase to $45.1 billion by…

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has reported instances of vote buying at some polling centers during the Ondo State governorship election, a recurring issue in Nigerian elections. Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesperson, stated, “There were, however, reports of pockets of vote buying in some voting centres, which have become a recurring issue in elections in the country.” Despite this setback, the PSC commended the security personnel deployed for the election. Ani noted, “The PSC expressed its satisfaction with the performance of the security personnel who policed the Ondo State governorship election held today.” The security officers, particularly the police, arrived…

In a surprise move, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo ordered the immediate freezing of all state-owned accounts in commercial banks until further notice. This directive, announced by Chief Press Secretary Fred Itua, demands strict compliance from banks, ministries, departments, and agencies. Okpebholo warned of severe punishment for anyone flouting the order, including heads of MDAs and civil servants. “All bank accounts in all commercial banks have been frozen… not a dime should be taken out until further notice.” The governor also reversed the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to its original name, Ministry of Works, citing the previous administration’s failure…

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced the completion of payment of allowances to all 72,138 examiners engaged as ad hoc staff for the 2024 School-Based Senior School Certificate Examination. This development comes after weeks of protests and threats from examiners who claimed they had not received their entitlements. According to Azeez Sani, NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, payments began on October 4, 2024, on a bank-by-bank basis to facilitate easier reconciliation and a smoother payment process. Initially, some examiners provided incorrect bank details, which have since been rectified, and payments have now been cleared with all…

A tragic incident in Akure, Ondo State, has led to the arrest of Prophetess Folashade Adekola after a woman, Jumoke Adesuwa, and her newborn died during childbirth at her church. The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the arrest on Tuesday. Adesuwa had gone into labor at the prophetess’s church in the Oke-Aro area, where complications arose, causing her to bleed profusely after delivering the child. The newborn died immediately. The incident only came to light after Adesuwa’s brother reported it to the police, prompting officers to take Adekola into custody. Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, stated,…

Nigerian music heavyweights Kizz Daniel and Adekunle Gold have joined forces to create the infectious new single “Pano Tona”, a fusion of their signature styles. Produced by the talented trio of Philkeys, Blaise Beat, and Reward Beats, “Pano Tona” is an uptempo masterpiece that blends Kizz Daniel’s smooth melodies with Adekunle Gold’s dynamic Afro-fusion sound. The song showcases Kizz Daniel’s skillful storytelling, weaving personal experiences and anecdotes into the lyrics. His energetic delivery is perfectly complemented by Adekunle Gold’s soulful vocals, adding depth and emotion to the track. Adekunle Gold brings his distinctive urban highlife style to the table, elevating…

Stephen Abuwatseya, an e-hailing driver, has issued a public apology to House of Representatives member Alex Ikwechegh, who assaulted him during a package delivery gone wrong. In a video statement released Thursday, Abuwatseya expressed regret for provoking Ikwechegh and asked Nigerians for forgiveness. “Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a few days ago. I actually want to apologise to him for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger. Abuwatseya urged Nigerians to unite and move forward, rather than dwelling on…

Nigeria’s national grid suffered its 12th collapse in 11 months yesterday, leaving the country in darkness. The bulk power supply disruption occurred at 11:20 am, according to the Nigeria National Grid. “Breaking: Another Grid Setback Experienced,” tweeted @NationalGridNg. This is the second grid collapse this week, sparking widespread frustration among Nigerians. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has yet to issue an official statement on Thursday’s collapse, but earlier blamed Tuesday’s incident on lines and generator trips. The development comes as Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, received an investigative report on the incessant grid collapses on Wednesday. Details of the…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered Nigeria’s national flags to be flown at half-mast for seven days to honor the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on Tuesday night after a prolonged illness. Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, appointed by President Tinubu on June 19, 2023, dedicated his life to serving Nigeria. His contributions to internal security operations and professionalism have left a lasting impact. “The President has directed that national flags be flown at half mast throughout the country for seven days in honour of the departed Army chief,” said Secretary to the Government of the…

The government of Equatorial Guinea has taken drastic measures to restrict citizens’ access to multimedia sharing on WhatsApp, sparking widespread criticism. This decision comes on the heels of a high-profile sex scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency. Engonga’s scandal involved over 400 videos with high-profile individuals, including relatives of the President and ministers’ wives. The footage, recorded with consent, was leaked online, causing a media uproar. In response, the government directed telecommunications operators to restrict access to “inappropriate content.” Citizens can no longer download or share multimedia files using mobile data on WhatsApp, forcing…