Day: April 13, 2025

WCO-WCA Donor Conference Ends in Abuja with Renewed Commitment to Customs Reform …. As CGC Adeniyi, WCO, Partners Call for Decisive Regional Action

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Fourth Donor Conference of the World Customs Organization for West and Central Africa (WCO-WCA) ended on a high note on Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Muhammadu Buhari Conference Centre, Abuja, with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to customs modernisation and sustainable development across the region.   The five-day conference brought together customs officials, donor partners, and stakeholders from across West and Central Africa to assess progress, share best practices, and strengthen regional collaboration in customs administration.   Delivering the closing address on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Finance…

State of Emergency:Reps to inaugurate Ad-Hoc Committee for oversight in Rivers State

Emporium Reporters

The House of Representatives has announced plans to inaugurate an Ad-Hoc Committee on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, to oversee the implementation of the State of Emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.   This followed the National Assembly’s resolution approving, with key amendments, the presidential proclamation declaring a State of Emergency in the state. The House said the move reflected its constitutional obligation and commitment to uphold democratic governance, even during emergency periods.   According to a statement signed by the Spokesman of the House, Rep.…

NiDCOM reaffirms Nigeria’s Investor-Friendly Climate, addresses Diaspora Concerns

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has reassured Nigerians abroad that the country remains an investor-friendly destination despite recent concerns raised by some diaspora groups.   Her assurance comes in response to a protest and petition by the Foreign Investors Network (FIN), led by President Ifeoma Nkengwu and Country Representative Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba. The group had alleged that Nigeria’s investment climate was discouraging, citing the demolition of a real estate project in Okun Ajah, Lagos, reportedly worth over $250 million and undertaken by Winhomes…

NOA raises alarm over Institutions shortchanging students in loan disbursement

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has raised serious concerns over unethical practices by some tertiary institutions in the disbursement of the Federal Government’s student loans, warned that students are being deliberately shortchanged.   According to fresh feedback from the Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO) of the NOA, several institutions of higher learning have allegedly connived with banks to delay or divert student loan funds disbursed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).   Director General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the revelation following a meeting with NELFUND…

SERAP to Akpabio, Abbas: Withdraw Repressive Bill Targeting Bloggers or Face Legal Action

Emporium Reporters

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to immediately withdraw a controversial bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, warning that failure to do so would result in legal action.   The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media…

“We Can Live a ‘Crucified Life’,” Proclaims Rev. Babatunde Idowu:

Emporium Reporters

By Afolabi Olajuwon A Comprehensive Analysis of Faith at Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters, Abuja   Theme: At The Cross: Condemnation Turned To Conquest   Topic: “We Can Live a Crucified Life”!   Text: Galatians 2:20, Galatians 3:13-14   Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025   On a transformative Sunday at the Foursquare Gospel Church in Wuse District Headquarters, Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu imparted a message of profound theological significance. His sermon, “We Can Live a Crucified Life”!, was embedded in the overarching theme “At   The Cross: Condemnation Turned…

General Buhari as an Enigma, by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

On Friday last week, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former House of Representatives Speaker and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, and former Governor of Kaduna State Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, alongside other political heavyweights, paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna. It was ostensibly a social visit, and they were seen exchanging banter, having a tete-a-tete, and enjoying lunch—all for the photo ops—before going into a…

“Tell Your Papa” as the spirit of Rwanda’s Simon Bikindi By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

In July, 2006, John Street, Emeritus Professor in the School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies at the United States’ University of East Anglia, received a call from Wilfred Ngunjiri Nderitu, Chairman of the Kenyan International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Nderitu wanted Street to be an expert witness in a trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Simon Bikindi, a Rwandan musician, accused of inciting genocide via his songs during the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi war, was on trial. Bikindi, a Hutu from Gisenyi, same region where assassinated Rwandan…

Olunloyo: Goodnight, Voltaire By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

At his ancient ‘imperial’ home in Molete, Ibadan last Thursday, I wrote in the condolence register: “He was a man, like French philosopher, Voltaire, who had trapped inside a single skull the brains of generations”.   When I met Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo (VOS) for the first time in 1995, the facade of scales that decorated my eyes about him began to drop. If you followed the 1983 Nigerian elections, especially in the old Oyo State, you couldn’t like VOS. Gradually, on meeting him visiting the newsroom of the Nigerian…

FHA Reviews Performance, Charts Future Path at Strategic Workshop on Housing Development

Emporium Reporters

By Our Reporter   The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) on Saturday, April 13, 2025, commenced a three-day in-house workshop themed “Adapting to Change: Exploring Challenges and Breakthroughs in Housing Development Over the Past Year.”   The strategic session, a follow-up to the Authority’s July 2024 Retreat, was aimed at re-evaluating progress made in the last year, assessing the current state of operations, and planning the way forward.   Delivering the opening remarks and programme overview, the Managing Director and Chief Executive, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, described the workshop as an internal…