Day: June 23, 2025

Two Years of Strategic Maritime Leadership: How Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla is Transforming the Nigerian Navy By Lukman Laleye Babalola

Lukman Laleye Babalola

On 23rd June 2023, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla assumed office as the 21st Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of Nigeria. Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Ogalla took over the mantle of leadership with a clear vision reposition the Nigerian Navy (NN) as a globally respected maritime force, professionally grounded and technologically empowered.   Two years on, the Nigerian Navy under his command has undergone remarkable transformation both in operational excellence and infrastructural development. One of the boldest initiatives under Admiral Ogalla’s leadership came in January 2024,…

$7.2Billion Refinery Fraud: EFCC arrests Ex-NNPC Chief Financial Officer

Emporium Reporters

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made a high-profile arrest in what could become one of Nigeria’s largest oil sector fraud scandals in history.   Umar Isa, a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is currently in custody over an alleged $7.2 billion fraud connected to the failed turnaround maintenance of Nigeria’s three major refineries Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt.   Also arrested is Jimoh Olasunkanmi, former Managing Director of the Warri Refinery. Several other top officials are under EFCC investigation…

NPA projects ₦1.279Trillion Revenue for 2025, after Record ₦400Billion Remittance in 2024

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has set an ambitious revenue target of ₦1.279 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year a 40 percent increase from the ₦894 billion generated in 2024.   Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this during the agency’s 2024 budget performance review and presentation of its 2025 proposal before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.   Dr. Dantsoho expressed appreciation to the Senate Committee for its continued guidance and support, acknowledging the National Assembly’s vital role in promoting fiscal discipline and transparency across government…

NUJ@70: Customs CG honoured for championing Press Freedom, National Development

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has been honoured with the Media Promoter and Advocate of Press Freedom Award in recognition of his unwavering support for responsible journalism and press freedom in Nigeria. The award was presented at the 70th Anniversary Gala and Award Night of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.   Organised as part of the NUJ@70 landmark celebration, the prestigious event featured a keynote address, book presentation, and conferment of…

Protest rocks NMDPRA Headquarters as Group demands suspension of CEO over alleged $5million scandal

Lukman Laleye Babalola

A civic advocacy group, the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria, on Monday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja, demanding the immediate suspension of the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Farouk Ahmed. The group, led by its Coordinator Felicia E. Daniels, accused Ahmed of being at the centre of an alleged multi-million-dollar financial scandal, abuse of office, and regulatory compromise. Daniels alleged that Ahmed had diverted over $5 million in public funds to sponsor the lavish foreign education of…

NUJ @ 70: NUJ FCT Chairman Grace Ike congratulates NAWOJ Presidents on well-deserved recognition

Lukman Laleye Babalola

As the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) marked its 70th anniversary, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has extended heartfelt congratulations to past and present Presidents of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) who were honoured with a distinguished award for their exceptional contributions to advancing women in journalism. The NUJ @ 70 celebration, held in grand style, brought together veterans and serving professionals across the media landscape to celebrate milestones and honour trailblazers. Among those honoured were Dr. Brenda Akpan, Mrs. Hannatu, Chief Moji…

MURIC Condemns Killing of Muslim Travellers in Plateau, faults Governor’s Statement

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly condemned the recent killing of eight Muslim travellers in Plateau State, described the attack as barbaric and the state government’s reaction as insensitive. On Friday, June 20, 2025, a bus conveying 28 Muslim passengers, mostly of Hausa ethnicity and travelling from Zaria to Qua’an-Pan in Plateau State, was reportedly ambushed by suspected youths in Mangun village, Mangu Local Government Area. According to reports, eight passengers were killed, six sustained various degrees of injuries one critically while four others remained missing. In a statement…

Let Tehran, Tel Aviv bleed, Abuja will pay the price By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

A tree does not fall in the forest and kill someone at home. That proverb may be true one hundred years ago. It has expired; its truth is lost to the ravages of this century’s technology. Check what Iran and Israel are sending to each other from a million kilometres apart. They are pressing buttons, bursting bunkers and cracking skulls. They are felling trees to kill the enemy at home.   Between Iran and Israel is a land distance of 2,308 kilometres. It takes 14 hours, 30 minutes to fly…

Òkòlò, our president’s mad lover By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

Who knows Òkòlò in Oyo? Òkòlò was a Tapa (Nupe) and a slave of the Alaafin of Oyo. His duty was to gather grass to feed the king’s horses.   The man was a slave with freeborn friends, and he had quite many. One day, one of those friends was found to be owing someone a thousand cowries –which was a hefty sum in those early days. Payment was due but Òkòlò’s friend could not find the money to repay the debt.   The debtor, accompanied by Òkòlò, went to…

JAMB Schedules 2025 UTME Mop-Up for June 28, Directs Candidates to Print Exam Slips from June 23

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed Saturday, June 28, 2025, for the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up exercise.   A total of 96,838 candidates are expected to sit for the rescheduled exam, comprising 5,096 spill-over candidates and those who failed biometric verification during the main exam. Also included are 91,742 candidates who were absent from both the main and resit examinations and have been granted a special dispensation to participate.   The mop-up will be held in 183 designated centres across the…