Month: April 2025

Nigeria-Bulgaria bilateral ties strengthened as Reps Committee bids farewell to Ambassador Yanko Yordanov

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-Bulgaria has hailed the strong and cordial trade relations between Nigeria and Bulgaria, marking a significant moment with the farewell of Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yanko Yordanov. During a farewell meeting held at the National Assembly Complex, Hon. Munachim Ikechi Alozie, Chairman of the Committee, emphasized that Nigeria and Bulgaria have enjoyed a long history of progressive ties. He described Nigeria as the “giant of Africa,” blessed with rich cultural and traditional heritage, and commended Ambassador Yordanov for his remarkable contributions to…

Nigeria’s Digital Goldmine beckons,as NITDA DG courts Global Investors ahead of GITEX Nigeria 2025

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has extended a bold invitation to global investors to explore Nigeria’s flourishing digital economy, branding it a land brimming with opportunities driven by a young, tech-savvy, and innovative population. Inuwa made this passionate appeal while engaging key stakeholders including startups and international investors at a GITEX Breakfast Meeting during the ongoing GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, Morocco. Looking ahead to GITEX Nigeria 2025, scheduled to take place from September 1 to 4 in Abuja and Lagos, Inuwa described Nigeria as a…

Speaker Abbas to EU: Go Beyond Election Monitoring, Invest More in Africa

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has urged the European Union (EU) to expand its engagement with African countries beyond election observation and security support, by investing more in infrastructure, technology, and development initiatives. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Speaker Abbas said Africa needs more robust partnerships that can match the increasing presence of Asian countries on the continent. “With the United States reducing aid under former President Donald Trump’s…

NiDCOM urges Cape Verde to release detained Nigerian Tourists, seeks immediate repatriation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called on the authorities in Cape Verde to immediately release and repatriate six Nigerian tourists who were detained upon arrival at the Cape Verde Island airport after traveling from Senegal for vacation.   According to a statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, the tourists were reportedly pulled out of the immigration line, accused of not having sufficient funds, had their phones confiscated, and were subsequently held at an immigration deportation camp at the airport.…

EFCC Nabs 40 Internet fraudsters in Niger state, seizes luxury items

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 40 individuals suspected of involvement in internet fraud across Bida and Minna Local Government Areas of Niger State, following credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities.   According to Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity, a range of items were seized during the operation, including three vehicles, eight power-generating sets, one Hisense air conditioner, two power stabilizers, 10 motorcycles, eight laptops, four Bluetooth speakers, and 60 Android phones.   In addition, several…

Wike’s Investment in Education in FCT, BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

Abubakar Yusuf

The state of both primary, post primary secondary schools and tertiary institution’s in the Federal Capital Territory FCT before the assumption of duty of Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as Minister was pathetic, as virtually both infrastructural decay , demoralized and inadequate manpower, poor funding, lack of adequate attention from stakeholders handling the activities in the FCT, except window dressing , made him to declare state of emergency in the nation’s city education sector at all levels.   Since Education is the bedrock of any development in the society, the need…

David Mark condemns Otukpo massacre, calls for stronger Security Measures

Abubakar Yusuf

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has condemned in the strongest terms the recent massacre in Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, following an attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The former Senate President in a statement signed by his Special Adviser Paul Mumeh, expressed his outrage over the brutal assault on the Otobi-Akpa, Emichi, and Utonkon communities, which left no fewer than 15 people dead. The attack occurred on Tuesday night, with widespread violence and destruction reported across the affected areas. Senator Mark voiced his deep concern over the frequency…

Tinubu Administration committed to IDPs’ welfare, says Deputy Speaker Kalu at UN Forum — Assures Kampala Convention will soon be Domesticated

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improving the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across Nigeria.   Speaking as a panelist during a high-level United Nations special online event to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internally Displaced Persons, Kalu said Nigeria is making concrete efforts toward the domestication of the Kampala Convention.   The Kampala Convention is a landmark African Union treaty that seeks to protect…

NCS deepens collaboration with Access Bank to enhance Trade Finance Integration

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a bid to consolidate the gains of its newly deployed Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), codenamed B’odogwu, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified engagement with key financial stakeholders, including Access Bank, to strengthen trade finance integration and system-wide efficiency.   At a virtual meeting held on Monday, April 14, 2025, the NCS leadership, led by Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, engaged top officials of Access Bank on aligning operational frameworks to support seamless financial transactions and digital trade facilitation.   Other…

NDLEA arrests notorious Drug Baron after 17 Years on the Run, Korean Intelligence seeks extradition

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of the Republic of Korea has applauded the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the arrest of a 59-year-old drug kingpin, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, who had evaded justice for 17 years while trafficking illicit drugs across international borders. Ogbonnaya, who previously served a one-year jail term in South Korea in 2007 and was deported to Nigeria in 2008, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at his hideout located at No. 3, Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Close, off LASU Road, Lagos. He had…