Month: May 2025

The Delusion of A Coalition Unseating Tinubu By Nelson Ogbu

Emporium Reporters

The proposal by opposition parties in Nigeria to form a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections has sparked intense debate and recent developments regarding the much-talked-about coalition raise serious doubts about its viability and strategic coherence.   From the task given to two former South-South governors to anchor discussions on whether to create a new political party or adopt an existing one as the coalition’s platform already underscores the uncertainty and lack of direction among the key players.   We recall recently of reports suggesting…

VAPP Act @ 10 : NAPTIP secures life sentences for High-Profile Offenders, vows tougher prosecution of SGBV cases

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, OON, has pledged a more aggressive prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) offenders, as Nigeria marks the 10th anniversary of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), 2015.   Speaking at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Saturday, May 25, 2025, Bello described the VAPP Act as a landmark legislation that has transformed Nigeria’s legal response to violence in both public and private spheres. “Today marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s…

RCMP Awards Nigeria Customs for Excellence in Cross-Border Crime Prevention …. As NCS intercepts 65 stolen vehicles, over 1,000 parcels of Narcotics in Joint International Operations

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has honoured the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its outstanding contributions to cross-border crime prevention, particularly in disrupting transnational vehicle theft and narcotics trafficking rings. The commendation was delivered during a formal ceremony held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja. At the event, the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio, presented an Award of Recognition to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in appreciation of his leadership and the Service’s dedication to…

Of journalists’ deaths, security lapses and cut-throat taxes, by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

Last week was a dark one for jou0 op of garden eggs a delicacy, sometimes eaten with pepper. He always answered respectfully.   In life, only Allah knows how every one of us will end our lives. A seemingly inconsequential sickness, thought to be high blood pressure, escalated into something else that caused him partial paralysis. The last time we spoke, he told me he had just returned from a Cairo hospital facilitated by the Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.   Amina’s case differed; she did not tell close…

Tinubu’s lifejacket and a deer’s sacred skin By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

What hunters see in the forest is enough to make children of men without balls blind. An ethnographic study of hunters in a wild called Ìgbẹ Alágogo conducted by a scholar at the University of Ibadan, Ayo Adeduntan, gave birth to the narrative. Ọláníyì Ọládèj̣ọ Yáwóọ̣ré had gone hunting one day and came face to face with a deer breastfeeding her young. Stupefied by this weird sight, an unusual dizziness pounced upon the hunter. But “an animal is pursuing me” is a disgraceful song that must never be sung by…

Muslims Ummah And The Significance Of The First Ten Days Of Dhul-Hijjah By Imam Murtadha Gusau

Emporium Reporters

Sunday, Dhul-Qa’dah 27th, 1446 AH (25/05/2025) In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his family and companions. Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, the Islamic calendar is rich with significant months and days that hold great spiritual and religious importance for Muslims worldwide. Among these, Dhul-Hijjah stands out prominently. Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar…

NNPC shuts down Port Harcourt Refinery for maintenance

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced the shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) for planned maintenance, effective Saturday, May 24, 2025. In a statement issued by Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. said the exercise is part of routine maintenance and a sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring the refinery operates at full capacity. “NNPC Ltd. remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security for Nigeria,” the statement read. The company added that it is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including…

Niger Police rescues kidnapped victims from Sokoto, Munya

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Niger State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state with the rescue of a kidnapped victim from Sokoto and four others abducted in Munya Local Government Area. According to a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, operatives of 12PMF stationed at Mararaban Dan-daudu on Thursday, 22nd May 2025, at about 11:00am, discovered a young man, Mubarak Iliya, 23, wandering in…

Intimate Affairs: Before You Go Beat Up His Side Chic By Funke Egbemode

Emporium Reporters

How many times do I have to warn wives to desist from going to the territory of their husband’s side chic or mistress to fight, physically fight? It is dangerous, demeaning, disgraceful. Babe, you can gossip about her, report her to her friends or even call her out on social media (which is also dangerous). You can even report her to God in any way you know, but you must not, should never go to her territory to roll up your sleeves or get into the gutter to do combat.…

Tinubu’s Economic Reforms yield ₦1.3 Trillion Customs Revenue in Q1 2025 — Presidency

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Presidency has announced that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated a record-breaking ₦1.3 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, attributing the achievement to the bold economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda.   This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Friday, May 24, 2025, and signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. The statement formed part of a forthcoming State House documentary marking President Tinubu’s second year in office.  …