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President Bola Tinubu has yet to move into the main residence even after relocating to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, and is only occupying the Glass House, a smaller structure just opposite the main residence, The PUNCH observed. This development comes after the president has spent 63 days in office since being sworn in on May 29. A senior Presidency official confirmed to our correspondent that President Tinubu moved to the Glass House on Sunday night where he will remain until the 32-year residence is fully renovated. The official residence has been under renovation since April leaving the president to operate from his private residence in Asokoro since his inauguration. Until this week, Tinubu had been operating from his private residence in Asokoro but made the recent move days after commuters decried the daily road closures to pave the way for his convoy. A viral video footage released last week showed a lengthy gridlock and a background voice lamenting commut

AFTER DARKNESS COMES THE GLORIOUS DAWN My fellow citizens, I want to talk to you about our economy. It is important that you understand the reasons for the policy measures I have taken to combat the serious economic challenges this nation has long faced. 2. I am not going to talk in difficult terms by dwelling on economic jargon and concepts. I will speak in plain, clear language so that you know where I stand. More importantly, so that you see and hopefully will share my vision regarding the journey to a better, more productive economy for our beloved country. 3.For several years, I have consistently maintained the position that the fuel subsidy had to go. This once beneficial measure had outlived its usefulness. The subsidy cost us trillions of Naira yearly. Such a vast sum of money would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national security. Instead, it was being funneled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of

NSF'2024: Abiodun Inaugurates LOC, Says Ogun Ready To Surpass Past Editions Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Monday inaugurated a 16-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 22nd National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state in 2024. Speaking while inaugurating the LOC at the Governor's Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Abiodun noted that the state is more than prepared to surpass previous editions and the achievements recorded during the last festival held by the state in 2006. The governor noted that his government is ready to continue to put in place world-class sporting infrastructure across the length and breadth of the state. Abiodun who also disclosed that the festival isn't about the competition or the performances, noted that the state under his watch is ready to showcase the talent, culture, potential and unique sense of hospitality of the people of the state. "We are determined to put in place world-class sporting infrastructures

The screening of the first batch of ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu has begun on Monday afternoon. Recall that a list of 28 ministerial nominees selected from 25 States of the Federation was forwarded to the Senate last week. The Senate is currently holding a special plenary session specifically for the screening exercise. LEADERSHIP reports that Section 147 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandates the President to appoint at least one minister from each of the 36 states. However, 11 states – Adamawa, Bayelsa, Gombe, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Osun, Yobe, Plateau and Zamfara — and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) don’t have ministerial nominees yet. In his letter to the Senate last week titled, ‘Request For Confirmation Of Ministerial-Nominees’, President Tinubu said supplementary ministerial list would be sent to the Red Chamber in due course. The Senate’s special sitting, which commenced past noon, was earlier devoted to a

The Oyo State workers have, on Monday, locked the state secretariat in Ibadan to demand palliatives, upward review of pension allowances and payment of salary deduction. Participating in the protest are workers and pensioners under the banners of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and their affiliates. Led by their union leaders, the workers are also demanding payment of leave bonuses, payment of gratuities to retirees who have stagnated since the year 2021and release of promotion letters for the Years 2021 and 2022. No government official is yet to address the protesting workers at of time of filling this report.

A judge in the Federal High Court, Justice Peter Mallong, has died. He was said to have died on Sunday after a brief illness. The Chief Registrar, Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hassan Sulaiman, confirmed this to our correspondent on Monday. He said, “Hon. Justice Peter Hoommuk Mallong, a judge of the Federal High Court, passed away on July 30, 2023, unexpectedly after a brief illness in Abuja. We will miss him more than words can express. “Funeral arrangements will be communicated to the public in due time.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will address Nigerians in a nationwide broadcast this Monday, July 31, 2023. According to a terse statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President (Special duties, Communications & Strategy), Dele Alake, on Monday morning, he said the broadcast will be aired at 7pm. “Television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast,” Alake stated.

The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, is getting set to deliver its judgement on the three petitions that are seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu As a precursor to the fixing of judgement date, the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel has directed all the parties to appear before it on Tuesday to adopt their final briefs of argument. The court, in a notice it sent to the parties, invited them to adopt their written address with respect to the petition that was lodged against President Tinubu by a former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well as the one that was filed by candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi. It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on March 1, announced that Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, won the presidential election that held on February 25, ahead of 17 other candidates that participated in

Lagos State Government has confiscated, burnt and buried six animals infected with Anthrax disease to prevent its spread. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olatokunbo Emokpae, announced this on Sunday. Emokpae, explained that the cases were discovered during surveillance of animals on Lagos Island and Agege area of the state. “No case of human infection has either been identified or reported since the discovery of Anthrax disease in Lagos. “Human and animal surveillance activities have been stepped up. “Free vaccination activities and monitoring have also been intensified. Animal owners should take advantage of the exercise by coming forward with their herd for inoculation,” he stated. The state government urged the public to report cases of symptoms in animals to the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture Director of Veterinary Services via telephone on 08023427594, 08180703010 or contact the Veterinary Epidemiologist on 08023328244.

Some elders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in some northern states of the country have thrown their weight behind the presidential ambition of the National vice president of the union (southwest), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede. The elders under the umbrella of the northern States NURTW Elders’ Forum at the weekend expressed sadness and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in NURTW since 2019 when the outgoing president, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Batuwa took over the mantle of leadership at the national headquarters of the union. The elders in a statement signed by Comrade Aminu Dongoyaro and Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, the Secretary and chairman respectively, said the Alhaji Baruwa has turned the union upside down, lamenting that giving him opportunity to go for another term will mean death sentence to the union We as elders from the northern states have been watching the situation of things in our dear union and after due consideration, we felt it  time

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have rejected the Federal Government‘s 25 per cent increment in the basic salary of doctors, as well as the N25,000 accouterment allowance per quarter. This is coming after the association declared a national indefinite strike which started on July 26, 2023, because of the failure of the government to meet its demands. The National Executive Council (NEC) of NARD, according to a statement by the President of the Association, Dr. Emeka Orji, said: “We observed the paltry 25 per cent increment in the basic salary of doctors as contained in the circular released by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) in the wake of the strike, as well as the accouterment allowance. NEC vehemently rejects the paltry 25 per cent increment in the basic salary of doctors as well as the accouterment allowance, adding that her earlier demand is for full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its right va

Russian companies are involved in 30 new power projects in Nigeria and 15 other African countries. The projects are expected to generate about 3.7 gigawatts of electricity. President Vladimir Putin of Russia made the disclosure at the Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum holding in St. Petersburg, Russia. He listed some of the power projects currently underway in 16 African countries including Nigeria. “More than 30 ambitious energy projects that involve Russian companies are now underway to varying extents in 16 African countries, with a total capacity of about 3.7 gigawatts. Russia’s RusHydro offers a vast scope of services to African partners, ranging from design and equipment supply to modernisation and construction of new turnkey power generating facilities. Russian companies Gazprom, Rosneft, Lukoil, and Zarubezhneft are involved in developing oil and gas fields in Algeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo. Over

The  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has said that approximately, 14.3 million Nigerians are involved in drug abuse. The agency said the  14.3 million Nigerian drug abusers are within the age range of 15 and 64 years, adding that more women are now involved. The Ogun state Commander of the NDLEA, Ibiba Odili, stated this during the Launch of the War Against Drug Abuse in collaboration with Lions clubs international, held in Abeokuta. Odili lamented the alarming trend of the involvement of women in drug abuse in the country, saying one in four is a woman. She said, “2018 survey tells us that the most common drug abused in Nigeria is cannabis, which regrettably is cultivated mostly in the southwest region of Nigeria. “That, one out of every four drug users is a woman. In  2018 data shows that more women are going into drug use. And if more women are going into drug use, it is a source of worry for us, because, it means that the traditional row of women in families and co

President Bola Tinubu, former Head of State, Gen Abdusalam Abubakar, and Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun on Saturday, eulogised the former Vice President of the country during the military era, Lt. Gen.  Oladipo  Diya (retd.) as he was committed to the mother earth. Late Diya who was buried at his Odogbolu country home with full military honour died on March 26 at the age of 79. Tinubu in his tribute described Diya as a very resourceful military strategist and an epitome of integrity who was selfless in his contribution and service to his fatherland. The President who was represented by the governor of Ogun State, gave his tribute during the funeral service held for the Late Diya at Cathedral Church of St Paul, Odogbolu, Ogun State. President Tinubu disclosed that as an accomplished military General, the late Chief of Defence Staff gave his all for the protection of the territorial integrity of the country as well as the preservation of the unity of the country. He said t

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is due to take a definite decision on the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, following his nomination as minister by  President Bola Tinubu . Wike has been locked in a running battle with the PDP after the party decided to go into the last elections with its then National Chairman, Dr.Iyorchia Ayu, and presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, both from the North. The Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, told The Nation on the phone yesterday that consultation was already in progress on the Wike issue. We are already consulting with the PDP Governors Forum on the matter and the National Working Committee (NWC) will be meeting on Monday to take a definite position on it,” Damagum said. The chairman said that contrary to allegations that the PDP has gone to bed since the outcome of the elections, the leadership has been engaging the various party organs in consultations with

Leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday stormed out of the meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on subsidy palliatives that was scheduled to take place at the presidential villa, Abuja on Friday.   The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, had led his delegation to the Chief of Staff’s office, venue of the meeting at about 5pm but were soon on their way out of the villa. The labour union accused the federal government of using the meetings as a pretext to deceive Nigerians.   A source at the meeting confirmed that three subcommittees were supposed to be present at the meeting including the Mass Transit, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Cash transfer subcommittees.   The source revealed that the subcommittees were scheduled to brief the steering committee but did not show up.   “So, they are not prepared for the meeting. That’s the truth,” the source declared, maintaining that the government representatives had insisted that the meeting should procee

President Bola Tinubu on Friday affirmed that the Federal Government is ready to support global tech giant, Google Incorporated, to create one million digital jobs in Nigeria. He gave the assurance at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Friday during the visit of Google Global Vice President, Mr Richard Gingras, to his office. Tinubu told the visiting Google executive that Nigeria had creative and talented young people who are ready and motivated to learn especially at this age of Artificial Intelligence, stressing that the tech giant has the capabilities and tools that the young people need to excel. We’ll support Google to create 1 million jobs in Nigeria — Tinubu by Leon Usigbe  July 28 Tinubu, Reps, ECOWAS President Bola Tinubu on Friday affirmed that the Federal Government is ready to support global tech giant, Google Incorporated, to create one million digital jobs in Nigeria. He gave the assurance at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Friday during the visit of Google Global

The Ogun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the state’s chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and its minders to stop circulating "fake videos and materials in a desperate bid to mislead their fast disappointed and depleting camp". A statement issued in Abeokuta on Friday quoted the APC Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, as saying that, "It has been brought to the attention of our party that the defeated and disheveled Ogun state PDP and its minders have been circulating some fake videos and materials that they claimed to have been  submitted to the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta. "The fake videos and materials are being circulated in a desperate bid to mislead their fast depleting and disappointed camp. Without any equivocation, we wish to say that the comical action of the Ogun state PDP is akin to cowards who die many times before their death. "We wonder why the PDP would

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has assured the people of Owode and its environs that the Siun-Owode road currently under construction would be completed in the next two months. Abiodun, who stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after inspecting the road, described it as not only critical to the economy of the local government area but that of the state as a whole. The governor said he was impressed with the level of work done so far by the contractor, adding that though the topography of the area has added some challenges to the project, the drainage system which is about 500 metres long has almost been completed. According to the governor, after the stone base has been put in place, the asphalting of the road would commence, assuring that within two months, the people would see the end of this project. He said, “This road is one of the roads we identified as critical to the economy of the state. It leads to the capital of one of the biggest local gover