Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has disbursed N1.45 billion in compensation to 195 residents of Ijan, Awo, and Araromi Ekiti whose lands were acquired for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project. The payment, made on Tuesday at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti, marks a crucial step in advancing the state’s flagship initiative to build an innovation-driven economic hub. Governor Oyebanji described the EKZ as “a strategic economic initiative aimed at creating an innovation-driven ecosystem and a business incubation platform for knowledge-based enterprises in the state.” He noted that the project is expected to create more than 14,000 jobs,…
Author: Podium Reporters
The Nasarawa State Government has confirmed that it is ready to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Lafia for the commissioning of several multi-billion naira projects spearheaded by Governor Abdullahi Sule. The announcement was made by Dr. Tanko Ibrahim, Commissioner for Information and Culture, during a media briefing on Tuesday. According to Dr. Ibrahim, President Tinubu will arrive at Usman Danfodio Airport and immediately proceed to commission the under/overhead bridge in Lafia, a key infrastructure development aimed at improving urban mobility. “The president will be received at the Usman Danfodio Airport in Lafia and will proceed to commission the under/overhead…
On Monday night, suspected cultists unleashed violence in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, resulting in the death of a policeman and a vigilante group member. The attack is believed to be a retaliatory act following the brutal assault on the Local Government Administrator, Goodluck Iheanachor, which took place last Friday. Reports indicate that approximately 30 armed hoodlums invaded the council premises last week, physically assaulting Iheanachor, seizing official documents, confiscating his phone, and forcing him to sign a resignation letter under duress. Iheanachor serves as one of the 23 Local Government Administrators appointed by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete…
On Tuesday, oil prices plunged by 3.5 percent following Israel’s public confirmation that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump to end the ongoing conflict with Iran. The announcement came after 12 days of escalating military exchanges that had threatened to disrupt global energy supplies. Brent crude dropped to $69 per barrel, and US WTI crude fell to $66.10 per barrel early Tuesday. Analysts noted that the market had priced in a “war premium” which has now largely dissipated as the prospect of peace emerged. Lee Hardman from MUFG highlighted that Brent had almost…
In a bold and candid interview on Arise TV, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai declared the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari a failure. The striking admission has set off a flurry of reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. During the broadcast, El-Rufai did not mince words when he stated, “Buhari was a failure.” He criticized several aspects of Buhari’s governance, suggesting that the former President’s administration did not meet the expectations of Nigerians and fell short in addressing key challenges. El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and once a staunch ally of Buhari, reflected…
Several schools and staff quarters in Katsina State’s Funtua Local Government Area have suffered significant destruction following a violent rainstorm. The exact number of affected structures has not been specified, but the impact has been described as extensive. The incident was confirmed in a statement issued by Sani Danjuma Suleiman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. According to the statement, Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musawa is deeply saddened by the event. The official statement reads: “With profound sorrow and complete submission to the will of Almighty Allah (S.W.T), the Katsina State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education announces…
Three people were killed in southern Israel on Tuesday following a missile strike attributed to Iran, occurring just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Despite the announcement, neither nation has officially confirmed the ceasefire, and hostilities continue. Trump posted on his Truth Social account, “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” adding that the ceasefire would be phased over 24 hours, with Iran halting operations first at 0400 GMT Tuesday, followed by Israel 12 hours later. He stated, “Upon the…
The landscape of Nigeria’s electricity sector has undergone a dramatic transformation under President Bola Tinubu’s Electricity Act 2023, which has empowered seven states to independently regulate their power markets. Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo, Edo, and Kogi now oversee electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within their jurisdictions. This move marks a departure from the previous centralized system, where the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) held exclusive regulatory authority. Now, states can issue licenses, set tariffs, and manage subsidies, while NERC transitions to a more supervisory role. The reform is seen as a step towards energy decentralization and increased competitiveness. However,…
In a bold move to elevate Nigeria’s agricultural sector, President Bola Tinubu officially launched the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme in Abuja on Monday. The initiative is part of his administration’s broader vision to position Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse. During the event, Tinubu announced the availability of more than 2,000 state-of-the-art tractors, alongside 50 bulldozers, 12 mobile workshops, and upwards of 9,000 farming implements. “We have over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 bulldozers, 12 mobile workshops, and more than 9,000 farming tools ready,” he stated, adding that these resources will ease the burden of farming, create jobs, and make…
In response to escalating global security threats, the United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a cautionary advisory urging American citizens to refrain from non-essential travel to military and government establishments in Abuja. This directive, announced on Monday by the US Embassy, reflects concerns over recent international developments that have heightened security risks. The embassy’s alert specifically restricts all US Embassy employees and their families from visiting Nigerian military locations or government venues unless for official business. This preventive measure is designed to mitigate potential threats against American personnel in the Nigerian capital. American residents and visitors in Nigeria are…