Author: Mujeebat Olayiwola

The arrest of Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Elediye, a prominent Lagos socialite, has brought fresh attention to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) fight against drug trafficking. On January 1, 2025, the agency apprehended the 61-year-old after intercepting a truck containing 44 jumbo sacks of imported cannabis. Elediye, who is well-known in the social circles of Lagos, was arrested at her mansion in Okota following the capture of her employee, Abideen Adio, who had been driving the truck. The NDLEA revealed in a statement on January 5 that Elediye is a significant figure in the drug cartel operating out of…

The Kogi State government’s decision to mandate students’ registration only upon presentation of their parents’ tax clearance certificates has triggered widespread outrage. Parents, human rights activists, and educationists are vocal in their opposition to the policy, calling it unjust and discriminatory. In late November 2024, the Chairman of the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue, Sule Enehe, issued a memo to schools, instructing them not to admit students without a verifiable tax clearance from their parents. A Kogi-based legal practitioner and rights activist, Arome Odoma, has since issued a Pre-Action Notice against the policy, challenging its legality. Odoma condemned the…

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative allowing students to resit their West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as early as January and February 2025. Previously, candidates had to wait months for the next private exam session. Now, with the newly launched WASSCE PC1, students can quickly enhance their grades and requalify for academic opportunities. According to WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, registration for the exams is open until 8th January 2025, with exams scheduled from 24th January to 15th February. Candidates can register via WAEC’s website or accredited internet cafés. To aid preparation,…

The Nigerian military is considering collaboration with law-abiding local arms manufacturers to bolster its arsenal, while maintaining efforts to curb the production and circulation of illegal firearms. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, revealed this during an operational visit to frontline troops under Operation Safe Haven in Plateau State. While inspecting a cache of locally made arms and ammunition seized by troops, General Musa highlighted the potential of engaging skilled manufacturers through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to enhance military capabilities. The CDS began his visit at the 3 Division headquarters of the Nigerian Army in…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to Accra, Ghana, on January 6, 2025, to attend the inauguration of President-elect John Mahama on January 7, 2025. The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. Mahama, who previously served as Ghana’s president from 2011 to 2017, was reelected in December 2024 and will succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose tenure ends after eight years in office. According to Onanuga, Tinubu’s visit follows an invitation from Mahama, who had earlier met with the Nigerian leader in December. “Mahama and Tinubu share a longstanding personal relationship, much like the…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), to explain the whereabouts of over ₦825 billion and $2.5 billion allegedly unaccounted for, according to the Auditor-General’s 2021 report released on November 27, 2024. SERAP urged Mr. Kyari to identify and hand over those suspected of involvement in the mismanagement or diversion of the funds to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The missing funds, reportedly deducted from crude oil sales, royalties, and…

The leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has refuted claims of a political agreement between himself, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso denied reports that he, Atiku, and Obi had agreed to a power-sharing deal, with Atiku serving as president for four years, followed by Kwankwaso for another four, and Obi for eight years. He dismissed the rumors as unfounded and criticized northern elites for meddling in candidate selection under the guise of regional leadership. “This…

In a ceremony held in Ilorin, Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, celebrated 200 beneficiaries of his university scholarship program. Themed “Securing the Future Today,” the event brought together distinguished personalities and community leaders from across the district. Addressing the beneficiaries, Senator Mustapha emphasized the value of academic excellence and urged them to remain committed to their studies while contributing positively to their communities. “You are the future governors, senators, ministers, and professors of Kwara State,” he remarked, inspiring the students to aim for leadership roles. The Senator also announced plans to expand the scholarship initiative,…

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has blamed the Nigerian Police Force for the deaths of 115 Nigerians during recent food stampedes in Ibadan, Abuja, and Anambra States. Speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a public lecture organized in memory of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Falana attributed the tragic incidents to police negligence and called for accountability. “The deaths of 115 Nigerians in the recent incidents in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija are unacceptable. The police failed to protect the people, and I hold them responsible. The government must pay compensation to the families…

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has informed residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) about scheduled power outages in certain areas to allow for maintenance work at two key transmission substations. In a statement released on Saturday, Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, outlined the maintenance schedule as follows: 1. Saturday, December 28, 2024 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.): – Maintenance on a 60MVA power transformer and switchgear at the Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV Transmission Substation. – Affected areas: Gwagwalada and its environs, with a four-hour power outage. 2. Sunday, December 29, 2024 (9 a.m. – 10 p.m.): – Maintenance…