Day: December 15, 2024

Military Onslaught Against Lakurawa Group in North-West Nigeria: A Spotlight on Operation Fasan Yamma and Its Impact on affected Communities By Lukman Laleye Babalola

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a region fraught with the threats of terrorism, banditry, and insurgency, the Nigerian military’s Operation Fasan Yamma(OPFY) has become a cornerstone in the fight to restore peace and security to the North-Western states. Launched in October 2024, the operation which comprises of Troops from Nigerian military, DSS, Nigerian Police, NSCDC and Local vigilante groups, main focus has been the eradication of the Lakurawa insurgent group, which had significantly destabilized parts of Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto States. These states are not only hotspots for criminal activity but also sit on…

God is About Love: Declares Sister Mercy Inyang at Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse, Abuja.

Emporium Reporters

.By Afolabi Olajuwon     A Report on a Sunday Service at Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse, Abuja.   On Sunday, December 15, 2024, the Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters in Abuja, was a beacon of joy and spiritual rejuvenation as congregants gathered for a memorable youth exaltation service.   The youth choir set the tone with inspiring songs and praises, creating an atmosphere brimming with devotion and unity.   The highlight of the service was an uplifting sermon delivered by Sister Mercy Inyang. Her profound message centered on the…

Kemi Badenoch: Shettima as flutist with ‘gègè’ on his neck, By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

This past Monday, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, held the fèèrè (flute) and blew it admirably. However, bystanders listening to the rhythm of his flute didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. Moyo Okediji, Assistant Professor of Art at the Wellesley College, Massachusetts, in his “Art of the Yoruba” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies, (Vol. 23, No. 2) described the flute held by Shettima as a symbol of the trickster god Esu, also known as the divinity of the crossroads. According to Okediji, Esu was so powerful that he…

Tinubu, Abbas, Ganduje, Governors, Top Dignitaries grace Senator Barau’s Children’s Wedding

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Prominent political, Traditional, and business figures gathered at the National Mosque, Abuja, for the grand wedding fatiha of the children of Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President.   The ceremony which had in attendance President Bola Tinubu, held after the two raka’at Juma’at prayers, witnessed the union of Jibrin Barau I. Jibrin (Abba) and Maryam Nasir Ado Bayero, daughter of the Emir of Bichi; as well as Aisha Barau I. Jibrin and Engineer Abubakar, son of Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, President of Azman Group of Companies.   President…

Cry not, North, Smell the Coffee and Act (2), by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

The North and its leaders seem happiest and satisfied when led by the nose. As in every election cycle, vote seekers would come and put a black liquid in a syrup bottle and, with fanfare, tell you they have gotten “crude oil” so we can re-elect them or that they should elect leaders based on tribe or religion. Because we have become so allocation-dependent, sheer laziness has become our lot because of the easy money that the monthly allocation has become to us. Our brains have frozen in time. We…

National Council endorses NOA’s Proposals on National Values and Symbols Standardisation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The 48th session of the National Council on Information and National Orientation, held in Kaduna, has adopted critical proposals from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to reinforce Nigeria’s identity and value system. The initiatives, presented by NOA Director General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, are part of the National Identity Project previously approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). These proposals focus on implementing the National Values Charter (NVC) and restoring the dignity and standardisation of national symbols. The Council approved measures to promote value orientation across the country, including establishing Citizens’…

Tax Reforms: A Double-Edged Sword for Nigeria’s Economy By Lukman Laleye Babalola

Emporium Reporters

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced his ambitious tax reform agenda, it was clear that he intended to reshape Nigeria’s fiscal framework. The reforms, targeting personal income tax, corporate tax, and value-added tax (VAT) distribution, are undoubtedly bold and necessary. But like any sweeping policy change, they come with both promises and pitfalls. As someone deeply invested in Nigeria’s socio-economic progress, I see these reforms as a double-edged sword—a tool for much-needed transformation, but one that requires careful handling to avoid cutting too deeply into the fabric of our fragile…