By Bayo Onanuga Politics thrives on disagreement. Democracy demands it. But disagreements must be rooted in facts, not frozen snapshots of history. When yesterday’s data are presented as today’s reality, the public deserves context. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his typical pastime, has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fiscal recklessness, citing excess borrowing in the 2024 budget, questioning the removal of fuel subsidy, criticising tax reforms, concocting an oil windfall of N7.98 trillion, and suggesting that Nigeria is drifting economically. His concerns, though misplaced, deserve a response—not because criticisms should be silenced – but because…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
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The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has paid a glowing tribute to the Republic of Benin on the occasion of its 66th Independence Anniversary, reaffirming the regional body’s commitment to solidarity, integration and shared prosperity in West Africa. In what is seen as one of his final symbolic gestures before the end of his tenure, Dr. Touray extended warm congratulations to the government and people of Benin, describing the country as a steadfast pillar of regional cooperation and democratic governance within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS Commission President acknowledged Benin’s longstanding…
ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government and state governments to redirect public spending from what it described as “prestige projects” and excessive government luxuries to investments that directly improve the lives of Nigerians, saying the country’s limited resources should be deployed to sectors with the greatest social impact. The organisation made the call on Sunday, 2 August, 2026, while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to state governors to stop constructing unnecessary flyovers in areas without traffic congestion and instead focus on projects that address the needs of citizens. In a statement signed by its Country Director,…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted cocaine consignments ingeniously concealed in a local mortar and the false bottom of a backpack destined for China and Italy, as it intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates. The seizures, made by operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) at a Lagos logistics company on Thursday, involved 250 grammes of cocaine factory-fitted into the base of a traditional local mortar packaged for export to China and 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in the false compartment of a backpack bound for Italy. The latest interceptions came as…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola Despite a generous 30 per cent debt write-off, one Nigerian domestic airline still owes the Federal Government a staggering N14 billion, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed, warning that the crushing debts are crippling the ability of aviation agencies to deliver critical services. Keyamo dropped the bombshell during a recent interview on Channels Television, explaining that rather than clamp down hard on defaulting airlines, the Federal Government had chosen the path of leniency, granting debt relief and negotiating repayment plans in recognition of the harsh operating environment battering the aviation industry.…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has declared the commission fully prepared for the Saturday, 15 August, 2026, Osun State governorship election, assuring voters that the democratic process would not be undermined by violence or intimidation. Amupitan gave the assurance on Saturday, 1 August, 2026 during a media briefing at the end of a five-day readiness assessment tour of the state, following the commission’s statewide mock accreditation exercise conducted across selected polling units in the three senatorial districts. The INEC chairman said the exercise, which tested the functionality of…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has declared the commission fully prepared for the Saturday, 15 August, 2026, Osun State governorship election, assuring voters that the democratic process would not be undermined by violence or intimidation. Amupitan gave the assurance on Saturday, 1 August, 2026 during a media briefing at the end of a five-day readiness assessment tour of the state, following the commission’s statewide mock accreditation exercise conducted across selected polling units in the three senatorial districts. The INEC chairman said the exercise, which tested the functionality of…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Federal Government has secured a five-year support package estimated at $500 million from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a major boost to Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen routine immunisation, vaccine delivery and primary healthcare. The package was announced on Friday, 31 July, 2026 during a meeting in Abuja between the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Dr Sania Nishtar, who led a high-level delegation to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Pate described the proposed support as a strong…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive investigation into allegations that more than N6.79 billion in public funds was diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs. The call was contained in a letter dated Saturday 1 August, 2026, according to a statement issued on Sunday, 2 August, 2026 by the organisation’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who disclosed that the allegations were contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s Annual Report published on September 9, 2025. Beyond the funds allegedly…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Lagos State Government will commence its 2026 Capacity Building Workshop for officers in the Unified Local Government Service, as part of efforts to strengthen public service delivery and improve governance at the grassroots. The intensive training programme, organised by the Lagos State Office of Local Government Establishments and Training, is scheduled to run from Monday, 3 August, to Tuesday 15 September, 2026, at the Office of Local Government Establishments and Training School, according to a statement issued on Sunday, 2 August, 2026. The Permanent Secretary of the Office, Ms Toyin Ogunlana, who announced the commencement…