Month: December 2024

DSP Barau sends off Scholarship Beneficiaries, as 70 Kano students depart for India

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Seventy students from Kano State have embarked on a journey to India to pursue postgraduate studies in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and related fields under the foreign scholarship program of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin. The beneficiaries, selected through the Barau I Jibrin Foundation (BIJF), represented the first cohort of this ambitious initiative aimed at expanding access to quality education for young Nigerians. The scholars, drawn from Kano’s three senatorial districts, departed from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Sunday. Senator Barau was present at the…

Troops Intercept Terrorist Ammunition Courier, Seize 764 Rounds of Ammunition in Zamfara

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, troops of 1 Brigade, Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, have apprehended a 25-year-old ammunition courier, Shamsiyya Ahadu, in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.   The suspect, who was transporting 764 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and six magazines intended for a notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, was arrested on December 28, 2024, alongside her accomplice, Ahmed Husaini, a motorcycle operator.   According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordinating Centre, the…

FHA To Open 2000 Bids for Renewed Hope Housing Project December 30

Abubakar Yusuf

By Abubakar Yusuf     In line with the present administration’s zeal to provide mass housing to Nigerians , under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Housing Authority, FHA will open the bids of applicants slated for Monday , December, 30 , 2024.   The 2000 bids received from prospective contractors will be declared open by the Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, FHA, Rt Honourable Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo along the Executive Directors.   In a release tagged “Opening of bids for the Renewed Hope Housing Projects in 17 States of…

HJRBDA MD hails President Tinubu’s Fertilizer Distribution Initiative

Emporium Reporters

By Abba Dukawa   The Managing Director of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing food security through the distribution of fertilizer to farmers for the current dry season. Bichi described the initiative as “unprecedented and worthy of mention,” adding that it reflects the President’s “unparalleled commitment” to advancing agriculture and addressing food security challenges in the country. In a letter of appreciation addressed to the President, the HJRBDA MD expressed gratitude not only for the fertilizer distribution…

Gov Okpebholo pledges to replicate Akpabio’s developmental model in Edo State

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced his commitment to replicating the transformational achievements of Senator Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom State to drive similar growth and development in Edo State. Governor Okpebholo made this pledge on Saturday night during a reception held in his honour in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The Governor lauded Akpabio’s landmark accomplishments during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom from 2007 to 2015, which repositioned the state as one of Nigeria’s most vibrant and beautiful.   Describing Akpabio as “the uncommon man,”…

Akpabio mourns with Gov Namadi over loss of Mother and Son

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has expressed deep sympathy to Governor Mallam Umar Namadi of Jigawa State following the tragic deaths of his mother, Hajiya Maryam Namadi, and his eldest son, Abdulwahab Namadi, who both died in a car crash.   In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Senator Akpabio conveyed his heartfelt sorrow for the successive losses, describing the situation as a painful and difficult experience.   “I was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of…

Ex-Queen Naomi and beheaded skulls in Mògún shrine By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

In my piece of last week, I made a tangential reference to the place of African magic in modern matters. It was in the discussion of the calamity that befell Nigeria a few days to Christmas. Ibadan, the capital city of the Yoruba, had taken a sizeable chunk of the tragedy. Thirty five persons, the bulk of whom were kids, had been trampled to death in a stampede. The dead and a crowd estimated to be about ten thousand, had heeded invitation to attend a funfair where freebies, which included…

Akpabio: Gov Okpebholo’s mandate is Divinely Ordained

Emporium Reporters

The President of the Nigerian Senate and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the mandate of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as a divine intervention aimed at bringing progress and development to the State. Speaking at his residence in Uyo on Saturday, Akpabio lauded Okpebholo’s leadership qualities, attributing his electoral victory in the September 2024 gubernatorial election to God’s will. “Leadership comes from God, and He chooses whom He pleases. It pleased Him to choose you and the APC to lead Edo at this…

Nigerians in Súàrá Sòbó bus By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

I have been asked severally what my opinion was on last week’s presidential media chat. First, I must commend the presidency for hosting the chat, though belatedly after 19 months of holding back. When the people hear directly from their leaders and not from third parties they didn’t elect, it affords them opportunity of psycho-analyzing the man at the helm of affairs, match his gestures with policies and project what the leadership’s future strides will be.   It was also gladsome to see the president radiating warmth, confidence and mastery…

Why Nigerians no longer want to pay tax (2), by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

There is no doubt that trust was the main determiner in making earlier citizens pay taxes willingly. There was trust in the leadership of the day and the knowledge that the taxes collected would not be misappropriated. Now, even the gate man in a motor park or market sees the tax he collects at the gate as his. Some have their tickets. When such collection points take the remaining proceeds to the next point, it gets “edited” until the process reaches its final pool, where a large number is collected…