Day: June 21, 2025

Chief of Naval Staff visits Borno, boosts morale of Troops, reaffirms commitment to Counterterrorism

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, on Saturday undertook a one-day operational visit to Borno State to assess the operational readiness of Nigerian Navy personnel and boost the morale of frontline troops battling insurgency in the Lake Chad region.   Vice Admiral Ogalla’s first port of call was the Naval Base Lake Chad (NBLC), where he commended officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy for their bravery and resilience in the ongoing war against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists. His visit followed the successful…

NUJ@70: Tinubu tasks Media on Nation Building, assures Press Freedom

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian journalists to use their platforms to foster peace, unity, and national development. Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the 70th Anniversary Award Night and Book Launch of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the media to thrive. According to the Minister, “From being in the trenches alongside Nigeria’s most courageous journalists in the fight for the actualisation of June 12, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu possesses an affinity…

Dabiri-Erewa commends Gov Josh Stein, Igbo Community as North Carolina declares June 14 Igbo Day

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has applauded the Governor of North Carolina, Josh Stein, for officially declaring June 14 as “Igbo Day” in the U.S. state, describing it as a reflection of the patriotic spirit and cultural impact of the Igbo community in the United States. The commendation was contained in a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM. Governor Stein’s proclamation recognised the deep-rooted presence and significant contributions of the Igbo people across North Carolina.…

Nigeria’s First Female Fighter Pilot, Flt Lt Kafayat Sanni, wins Top honours at Ghana’s Defence College

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Flight Lieutenant Kafayat Omolara Sanni, Nigeria’s trailblazing first female fighter pilot, has added another feather to her cap by clinching two prestigious awards at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Accra. At the graduation ceremony held on 20 June 2025, Flt Lt Sanni was named the “Best Allied Student” and also received the award for the “Best Assistant Commandant Paper.” The event drew top military officials and dignitaries from across Africa, highlighting the strategic importance of regional defence cooperation and excellence.   Flight Lieutenant Sanni first gained…

WAES 2025: Tinubu pushes for Inclusive Regional Cooperation, Investment

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday, June 21, 2025, led West African leaders in a bold call for enhanced regional economic integration as he hosted the maiden West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.   The two-day summit, which concluded today, was convened by President Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It preceded the 67th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS, scheduled for Sunday, June 22, 2025,…

Speaker Abbas condemns killing of 12 Travelers in Plateau, demands Justice

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has strongly condemned the gruesome killing of 12 travelers from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, who were ambushed in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.   This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.   The victims, reportedly en route to Qua’an Pan LGA for the wedding of a colleague, were attacked around 8:00 pm on Friday night while traveling in a bus…

Reflections on Naira-for-Crude By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Emporium Reporters

Crude oil price rebound after China-US trade talks The Naira-for-Crude initiative has ignited a profound debate in Nigeria’s economic landscape, yielding tangible results, such as the consistent drop in petrol prices. It is a development warmly received by many citizens. Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s influence on petrol prices demonstrates its authority, even as it raises fundamental questions about the interplay between state power and economic dynamics. If successfully implemented, the initiative could foster economic stability, diminish foreign currency dependence, and redefine Nigeria’s economic trajectory. However, a pressing question lingers: should…

Nigerian Navy reaffirms commitment to fitness, discipline during Q2 Route March in Abuja

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, has reiterated the importance of physical and mental fitness in enhancing operational readiness and national security, as officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy participated in the 2025 Second Quarter Route March held at the Naval Unit, Admiralty Estate, Abuja. Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the CNS, Rear Admiral Julius Nwagu emphasized that the route march was organized not only as a show of force, but also to promote mental alertness, physical fitness, esprit de corps, and…

Matrix Energy CEO, Downstream Leaders meet Finance Minister to deepen energy reforms, expand CNG investment

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a major move to strengthen Nigeria’s energy sector, a high-level delegation of private sector leaders in the downstream petroleum industry, led by the Chief Executive Officer of Matrix Energy Group, Engr. Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, to discuss ongoing reforms and investment opportunities.   The meeting, held in Abuja, also had in attendance Mr. Yakubu Maishanu, Chairman/CEO of AYM Shafa Ltd, and Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, CEO of A.A. Rano. The delegation commended the federal government…

ICPC deploys Ethics Tools in Customs Service to bolster Anti-Corruption framework

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a renewed push to entrench transparency and uphold ethical standards, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has deployed its Ethics and Compliance Scorecard (EICS) and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Effectiveness Index (AEI) in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).   The deployment exercise took place on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, as part of the Commission’s annual strategy to assess and strengthen integrity mechanisms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).   Speaking during the visit, the Assistant Comptroller-General of…