President Bola Tinubu has made a decisive administrative decision to extend Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s role as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service for an additional year, shifting the conclusion of his term to August 2026 from the original August 2025 date. This extension ensures that Adeniyi will have sufficient time to deepen reforms that have been unfolding within the Customs Service. Central to these reforms is the nationwide rollout of the National Single Window Project, which promises to simplify and expedite customs procedures across Nigeria, alongside adhering to the strategic goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area protocol.…
Author: Podium Reporters
In a recent television interview, Professor Jerry Gana, an original architect of the Peoples Democratic Party, laid out his conviction that Peter Obi would triumph in northern Nigeria should he contest under the PDP again. Gana praised the northern electorate’s fairness and open-minded approach towards Obi. “I’m a researcher, and I research opinions. In the northern states, Peter Obi under the PDP will defeat any candidate, because our people are very fair‑minded,” he remarked on Wednesday’s broadcast. This optimism hinges on Obi’s potential reunion with the PDP after he left to champion the Labour Party in the 2023 elections. Gana…
A significant internal crisis has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following a bold move by Nafi’u Bala, a former governorship candidate from Gombe and one-time national deputy chairman of the party. On Wednesday night in Abuja, Bala proclaimed himself the national chairman of the ADC, directly challenging the leadership of the party under former Senate President David Mark. At a press conference, Bala accused the currently recognized leadership, led by Mark, of unlawfully seizing control of the party and violating the party’s constitution. He described the situation as “acts of political hooliganism” perpetrated by individuals previously entrusted with…
Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with cholera reflects a broader regional health crisis that demands immediate response, UNICEF officials revealed recently. With recurrent outbreaks becoming the norm rather than the exception, Nigeria has now recorded over three thousand suspected cholera cases and nearly ninety fatalities spanning more than 30 states as of June. “Cholera remains endemic in Nigeria, with the country experiencing recurrent major outbreaks in recent years,” UNICEF’s Gilles Fagninou remarked while briefing on the regional epidemiological status. Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal disease transmitted through consuming contaminated food or water, represents a significant threat to West and Central Africa, affecting especially…
Beginning in early 2026, Nigerians face a fresh financial hurdle—a newly legislated five per cent surcharge on petrol and other refined fossil fuels. This policy, enshrined in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act signed by President Bola Tinubu in June, aims to bolster government revenue amid steep subsidy costs and growing national debt. Fuel consumption data analyzed against current retail prices suggest the government stands to earn roughly N796 billion annually from this levy on petrol alone, excluding related products like diesel and aviation fuel. The surcharge, based on the product’s retail price at the first relevant transaction stage, will be…
The Federal Fire Service is set to witness a new era as President Bola Tinubu has given the go-ahead for the appointment of Olumode Samuel Adeyemi as Controller-General, to assume duties from August 14, 2025. This handover comes as Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji retires on August 13, in line with age-related regulations. The official statement, released by Major General A.M. Jibril (retd.), Secretary of the Board overseeing the Service, highlighted the incoming leader’s breadth of experience gained through years of service and progression within the fire and emergency management sector. Olumode’s journey has included roles in the FCT Fire Service as…
Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is on track with its pledges to Northern communities. Idris, appearing on a live radio show, detailed how Tinubu, ahead of his presidential bid, made clear commitments in areas such as national security, educational upliftment, and agricultural advancement during a meeting with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation. As part of ongoing efforts to ensure accountability, the foundation recently hosted a session examining how election promises are progressing into tangible governance outcomes. Idris emphasized, “Upon assuming office, President Tinubu made a conscious effort to…
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan’s branch of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), commenced a seven-day warning strike on Wednesday. This follows a directive from the association’s national body, which declared the action after long-standing concerns over welfare and professional recognition were allegedly ignored by the Federal Government. Mrs. Olufunmilola Faminu, the local leader, issued an emotional appeal to patients, saying, “Sadly, we are so concerned about our patients; we don’t intend to leave them stranded without our care. But we have no choice.” Demands made by NANNM—at both national and branch levels—include an increase in…
At a time when the landscape of Nigerian higher education faces unprecedented economic challenges, TETFund has announced a recalibration of its funding priorities, steering resources away from foreign academic training toward critical infrastructure projects on local campuses. This announcement was made by Aminu Masari, the organization’s chairman, as he presided over the inauguration of five cutting-edge facilities at Akwa Ibom State University. According to Masari, the suspension resulted from the triple pressures of currency devaluation, soaring costs of international training, and scholar retention issues. “These new projects have a combined cost exceeding N7.3 billion, representing a direct and necessary response…
Nigerian youths have been urged to take charge of the nation’s democratic processes and to view themselves not merely as leaders of tomorrow but as critical stakeholders of today. The appeal came during the launch of the Take Action Campaign in Abuja, which seeks to harness the vitality and numbers of the country’s youth. During the event, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, though represented by a surrogate, outlined the pressing need for increased youth involvement in governance. He noted, “The youth are not just the future, they are the present. They must begin to reflect their numbers…