There is no doubt that the hike in food prices since the beginning of 2024 has taken another dimension, with goods generating different price tags daily. This is a result of soaring inflation, which has eaten deep into the purchasing power of many Nigerians, taking away staple foods from the table of many and increasing the poverty level in the country. Speaking with Vanguard, market leaders from Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Ogun states decried the consistent surge in the prices of foodstuffs, which has exacerbated hunger among the citizens. It’s been hard for traders —Ado-Ekiti market leaders The leader of…
Author: Ajibola Oluwasegun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, urged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss an application the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, filed to quash the nine-count money laundering charge it preferred against him. In a counter-affidavit it filed before the court, the anti-graft agency maintained that it has gathered sufficient evidence to secure the conviction of the erstwhile governor. EFCC, in the affidavit that was deposed to by one Habu Fari, said the proof of evidence it adduced before the court established a prima facie case that would warrant the defendant…
Members of the ‘Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore’, on Wednesday, staged a protest at the Federal High Court, Abuja, to demand the unconditional release of their detained president, Bello Bodejo. The protesters, who carried a big banner with the inscription “Free Bello Bodejo,” gathered at the entrance gate of the high-rise court to press home their demands. Other members of the group also carried placards that read: “DIA, Free Bodejo Now,” “Release Bodejo.” Comrade Kabir Matazu, who spoke on behalf of the group, said his arrest and detention was unlawful. According to him, in a democratic society, rule of law is…
Mixed reactions have been trailing the suspension of the much-anticipated student loan scheme introduced by the federal government. Recall that the Federal Government postponed the launch of the Nigerian Student Loan Scheme indefinitely. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, made this in an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday. Sawyer said the loan scheme was postponed due to some corrections that were being made around the launch. The postponement comes barely 48 hours before the launch. In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed a bill to start a Student Loan Fund that would give interest-free…
Leaders of the All Progressive Congress in Owo and Ose local government areas of Ondo state have disagreed over the endorsement of governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the party’s candidate ahead of next months primary election. Recall that the deputy governor of the state, Dr Olayide Oyelami had led others to endorse the governor at an event held at Owo on Monday. A statement issued by the office of the deputy governor, said that local government chairmen, ward excos, unit chairmen, leaders and party faithful have endorsed Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as governor of Ondo state in the 2024 election. It quoted the…
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has inaugurated a 1.2 million-dollar programme to improve export standards of Nigeria’s sesame and cowpea products. The WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said this at the launch of the seven trade support programmes for Nigeria initiated by the WTO, World Bank, and ITC on Tuesday in Abuja. Okonjo-Iweala said the projects aimed at tackling cases of rejection of Nigeria’s products on the international market. She said the project was inaugurated with the Standards Trade Development Facility (STDF), International Trade Centre (ITC), and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC). According to her, the project will support…
Director General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has called on the federal government to secure the release of the students abducted by bandits in Sokoto and Kaduna states. Okonjo-Iweala, while speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the launch of the WTO-ITC 2024 technical assistance programme for Nigeria, expressed her sadness over the abduction. She, however, expressed hope that the students get recovered soon. “I am sad because I am here at a time when once more hundreds of our school children and teachers have been abducted,” Okonjo-Iweala said. “As a mother, grandmother, educator and someone for whom education…
The Federal Government has postponed the launch of the Nigerian Students Loan Scheme indefinitely. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, made this known during an interview with Arise News on Tuesday. The loan, which was originally scheduled to commence on Thursday, has been postponed once more. Sawyer explained that the delay is due to some corrections being made regarding the launch. He said, “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to commit to a specific date. We are sort of waiting to ensure that all the stakeholders are aligned to make sure that nobody is blindsided, then…
Troops of the Nigerian Army have uncovered and neutralized a manufacturing factory of firearms operated by armed fighters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Onicha Ulona, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. The Nigerian Army made this known in a statement issued by the Director of Army on Public Relations, Onuema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday, March 12. The statement reads: “Troops of the Nigerian Army have made a significant inroad in the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency, as they uncovered and neutralized a major firearms and drone manufacturing factory operated…
Senator Abdul Ningi has been suspended for three months The Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over the allegation he brought that the National Assembly passed two versions of the 2024 budget. He was suspended on Tuesday on the floor of the Senate. The Senate was turbo-charged on Tuesday following the suspension of the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Abdul Ningi, A member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim, moved a motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly…