Day: May 2, 2025

From headwinds to tailwinds – under Tinubu, Nigeria propels forward By Sunday Dare

Emporium Reporters

Two years into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria is undergoing a bold recalibration. A country once caught in the inertia of subsidy politics and policy hesitancy is now charting a new course, marked by structural reforms, fiscal reengineering, and renewed international engagement.   From the outset, President Tinubu signalled an intent to stabilize Nigeria’s economy and fundamentally reset it. As Nigeria arrives at the halfway mark of this administration’s tenure, early evidence suggests that this pivot is not only well underway – it is beginning to deliver.   The…

Atiku Media Office to President Tinubu: Call Your Son to Order, Nigeria is not a Private Estate

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Media Office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong-worded statement calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in his son, Seyi Tinubu, over his alleged involvement in acts of political intimidation and abuse of power.   The statement, signed by Atiku’s spokesperson, Mr. Paul Ibe, followed serious allegations made by the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Isah, who claimed to have been physically assaulted, abducted, and induced by individuals linked to the President’s son.   Describing the situation as…

Meta threatens Facebook, Instagram shutdown in Nigeria over $290million fines

Emporium Reporters

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has threatened to restrict access to both social platforms in Nigeria following hefty penalties imposed by local regulatory authorities. Last year, three Nigerian regulatory agencies slammed the U.S.-based tech giant with cumulative fines exceeding $290 million for various alleged violations of national laws and regulations. Meta recently contested the sanctions at a High Court in Abuja, but the court ruled against the company, mandated that it settle the fines by the end of June 2025. While Meta also owns the…

Nigeria Customs pilots Electronic Currency Declaration System at Abuja Airport

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the pilot phase of its Electronic Currency Declaration Form (e-CDF) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, marking a significant step in its ongoing efforts to modernize and strengthen border controls. The pilot, which began on April 9, 2025, has been executed without any issues, demonstrating the system’s capability to handle the digital capture of both inbound and outbound currency declarations. This digital transformation is aimed at enhancing the efficiency, security, and accountability of currency declarations for cross-border travellers. Throughout the pilot phase,…

MURIC to Shari’ah Critics: Where is your voice after Makinde’s U-Turn?

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has questioned the conspicuous silence of critics who had earlier opposed the introduction of Shari’ah arbitration panels in the South-West, following Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent public endorsement of the panels in Oyo State.   The Islamic rights group described the silence as hypocritical and deliberate, accusing South-West opinion leaders, socio-political groups, and state actors of double standards. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday, 2nd May 2025, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.   Earlier in the year, the establishment…

Niger Police arrests Burglars, recover 50 Stolen Sheep in separate operations

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Niger State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in its ongoing efforts to combat crime across the state, with the arrest of burglars in Minna and the recovery of 50 stolen sheep in Kontagora.   In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that two burglars were apprehended in connection with a housebreaking incident in the Brighter area of Minna, while another suspect was arrested for livestock theft in Kontagora.   According to the statement, on April 30, 2025, at about 11:45…

Multi ‘Zero-Party’ Democracy, by Olusegun Adeniyi

Emporium Reporters

In his book, ‘From Opposition to Governing Party: Nigeria’s APC Merger Story’, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu (now of blessed memory) discussed the delicate negotiations that eventually culminated in the registration of the APC. Each of the merging parties and groups came with their own proposals, especially regarding the party’s acronym. “Each emerging partner wanted the new name to be as close as possible to its old name. In accepting the new name, each merging partner became satisfied only when it contributed at least one word. In accepting the name, All Progressives…

Customs CG Adeniyi commissions renovated School, Health Centre in Lagos Community

Lukman Laleye Babalola

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme tagged ‘Customs Cares’, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commissioned a newly renovated Local Authority Primary School and a Primary Healthcare Centre in the Sagbokoji community, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State. The commissioning ceremony, held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, was led by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to supporting its host communities through impactful development initiatives.   “We are undertaking projects that will have direct impact on our schools and…

Friday Sermon: The Death Of A Great Scholar, A Tribute To Shaykh Abdur-Rashid Hadiyyatullah! By Imam Murtadha Gusau

Emporium Reporters

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions. Dear brothers and sisters! The president of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), Shaykh Abdur-Rashid Hadiyyatullah, passed away on Monday, 28th April, 2025. He died after a brief illness in his home town, Iwo, Osun State, and he was 83. Respected servants of Allah! Shaykh Hadiyyatullah was born in…

Nigeria validates 2025 VNR on SDGs, launches progress report and inclusive Data Plan ….. UN, NGF, Stakeholders back Evidence-Based Approach to 2030 Agenda

Abubakar Yusuf

Nigeria has officially validated its 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also launching the 2024 SDGs Progress Report and the Inclusive Data Charter (IDC) Action Plan, signaling a renewed national commitment to accelerating sustainable development ahead of the 2030 deadline. The validation event, held in Abuja, brought together top government officials, development partners, civil society actors, academia, and representatives of vulnerable groups in a demonstration of inclusive governance. Speaking at the event, Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila emphasized…