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Folarin Kehinde

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Police uncover fresh plot to set Kano assembly ablaze

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Kano State Police Command says it has uncovered fresh plan by some hoodlums to unleash terror and set the state assembly ablaze.

The move is not unconnected with the recent emirate tussle in Kano State following a new law by the House of Assembly.

The commissioner of Police, CP Usaini Gumel disclosed this during a press briefing on Sunday, May 26.

Gumel said the command uncovered plots to launch an attack on the Kano State House of Assembly and other prominent locations in the state.

CP Gumel noted that men of the force have been deployed to embark on a house-to-house search to fish out the miscreants plotting to cause unrest and destabilise the peace in the state.

“We have uncovered credible intelligence about some group of people who are considered as enemies of the state and miscreants who are trying to unleash terror in the state by embarking on targeted attacks at locations, particularly the House of Assembly and some prominent locations within the state capital. This intelligence has been verified by so many sources,” the police chief said.

“We have perfected plans to embark on serious patrols as well as detections particularly areas where we were informed that the miscreants are hiding. No hiding place for them.

“Whoever, under whatever guise is found to be planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State or feel that he/she can jeopardize the existing security settings in the State will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“We are going to embark on a house-to-house search for anybody who they are above the law,” CP Gumel however stated.

Meanwhile, sources say that the miscreants were mobilized and paid to destabilize and cause tension in the state.

According to a source, some targeted areas include residence of the Majority leader of the assembly, Lawan Hussaini who sponsored the repealed law, and a member representing Gwale among others.

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JUST IN: Robbers attack Abuja hotel as guests battle for life

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Robbers on Saturday night attacked a hotel in Abuja and left several visitors injured and some are still battling their lives.

Photos of the victims circulating online also revealed the extent of the attack.

According to eyewitnesses, the hotel located on 1st Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, was attacked last night, with every visitor targeted and subjected to robbery, stabbing, and severe injuries.

One of the victims, a man who was in Abuja for a visa interview, is currently fighting for his life in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit of a nearby hospital.

The photo shows the extent of his injuries, with severe stab wounds and a desperate struggle for survival.

All efforts to get the reaction of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh were futile as calls and messages put across to her were not responded to.

Details shortly…

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BREAKING: FG sues 36 states at Supreme Court over local govt autonomy

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The federal government has sued the thirty-six governors before the Supreme Court to ensure the autonomy of the nation’s local governments.

In the suit, marked SC/CV/343/2024, was filed on May 20, by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on behalf of the federal government.

The federal government is praying the Apex Court for an order prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary, and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected leaders for local governments.

It also prayed the Supreme Court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the federation account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.

It wanted an order stopping governors from constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognized and guaranteed democratic system.

Also, the federal government wants an order of injunction restraining the governors, their agents, and privies from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states.

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BREAKING: Many feared dead as mosque collapses in Lagos

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Papa Ajao area of Lagos State as a mosque collapsed during afternoon prayer, resulting in numerous casualties.

Reports indicate that many people lost their lives, while others sustained injuries.

Rescue efforts are underway, with authorities and emergency responders working tirelessly to extract victims from the rubble.

The exact number of casualties and individuals trapped beneath the debris is yet to be determined.

As the situation unfolds, further details will be provided soon.

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BREAKING: Tension as Abuja-Kaduna train derails

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

An Abuja-Kaduna has derailed halfway to the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday, May 26.

The train with dozens of passengers on board departed Kaduna around 8:05am but derailed at Jere about an hour later.

It was gathered that efforts are being made to repair the train, with about three carriages off the tracks.

Details shortly…

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Obaseki pays N70,000 new minimum wage to Edo workers

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Edo State Government has paid the N70,000 new minimum wage to workers in the State, in fulfilment of the promise to increase the minimum wage from the month of May, 2024.

Governor Godwin Obaseki had during the 2024 Workers’ Day celebration increased the minimum wage for workers in the State from N40,000 to N70,000, to reflect the current economic realities of the country and cushion the impacts of the harsh economy on the people of the State.

In a statement, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage to the workers, further demonstrates the commitment of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to the welfare of Edo workers.
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According to him, “The Edo State Government has paid the May salaries of workers in the State, reflecting the implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage.

“This is in fulfilment of the promise made by Governor Godwin Obaseki to increase the minimum wage from N40,000 to N70,000 beginning this May, as part of efforts to cushion the impacts of the harsh economy occasioned by fuels subsidy removal and other economic decisions by the Federal Government.”

“It is also in furtherance of the commitment of the State Government to meet its statutory obligation even before the end of the month,” he added.

The commissioner urged workers to be committed to their duties, while contributing effectively to ensuring the governor finishes strong, to reciprocate the gesture by the state government to their welfare.

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FG approves N35bn financing to revive Ajaokuta

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government says it has reached an advanced stage of raising more than N35 billion required to restart the Light Mill Section (LMS) of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, said this at the Ministerial Sectoral Update on the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the last one year,on Thursday in Abuja.

Audu said that a presidential approval had been given to raise the amount from a local financial institution, as part of the Tinubu’s administration resolve to boost the economic profile of Nigeria.

“The local financial institution has given us a final offer.

“I have done a cover letter and forwarded the relevant documents to the Minister of Finance to be able to take the financing on behalf of the Federal Government,” he said.

He said that the LSM had the capacity of producing 400,000 metric tonnes of iron rods per annum, and was critical in shoring up industrialisation in Nigeria.

According to him, he is working closely with the minister of works to supply the iron rods needed for road construction projects in the country from the section.

“There are so many roads being constructed in the country, about 30,000km of roads across the six geo-political zones.

“We understand that the ministry of works needs about seven million metric tonnes of iron rods over that four year period (first term) to construct these roads, Ajaokuta can produce 400,000 tonnes,” he said.

There are so many roads being constructed in the country, about 30,000km of roads across the six geo-political zones.

“We understand that the ministry of works needs about seven million metric tonnes of iron rods over that four year period (first term) to construct these roads, Ajaokuta can produce 400,000 tonnes,” he said.

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BREAKING: Labour Rejects FG’s Fresh ₦57,000 Wage Proposal Demand ₦497,000

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has again rejected the Federal Government’s new offer of ₦57,000 minimum wage.

The Organised Labour rejected the government’s fresh offer, the third proposal in about a week when negotiation talks resumed on Wednesday.

However, the NLC and the TUC shifted ground from their initial ₦615,000 to ₦497,000.

A prominent member of the Tripartite Committee for the negotiation of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers told Channels Television labour correspondent that the Federal Government and the Organised Private Sector side of the talks proposed a ₦57,000 monthly minimum wage as against the ₦54,000 they proposed on Tuesday when the committee resumed negotiations. The government had initially proposed ₦48,000 last week, which was also rejected by the Organised Labour.

According to the source, the Organised Labour also saw reasons to drop their demand from the initial ₦615,000 minimum wage to ₦497,000.

The Organised Labour had pulled out of the negotiation last week, accusing the government and private sector of showing unwillingness to agree on a new minimum wage.

At the resumption of the negotiations on Tuesday, the NLC and the TUC also rejected the new proposal of ₦54,000 minimum wage by the government.

The committee is yet to agree on a new minimum wage just about 10 days before the May 31 deadline the labour unions gave to the government to conclude the negotiations.

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JUST IN: FG bans processing of Nigeria’s mineral resources abroad

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government has effected a new policy, which makes it imperative for mining companies interested in using its solid minerals to set up their plants in country and process such materials rather than ferrying them away to process abroad.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, disclosed the development while briefing the media as part of the one-year anniversary of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Alake said announced that in order to prove the seriousness of the administration to the development f the Solid Mineral sector, the ministry has revoked the mining licenses of no fewer than nine thousand dormant companies, that got approvals but did not use the licenses to produce anything.

The minister announced that although the dormant licenses were promptly revoked by the Tinubu’s administration, it had also put in motion new policies that have attracted no fewer than 10,000 new applications for licences, out of which 4000 new ones have been issued to applicants.

Alake boasted that the Tinubu administration was determined to turn the solid mineral industry into a major economic sector to compete favourably with the oil and gas industry and create new source of wealth for Nigeria.

The minister spoke just as his Steel Development counterpart, Mr. Shuaib Audu Abubakar, revealed that the federal government had approved the sourcing of $25 million to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Plant in Kogi State, starting with the production of iron rods for the construction industry.

Abubakar said that the ministry was at the final state of obtaining private sector funding to get the plant partially producing important military hardware and save the country from importing the core items abroad.

Abubakar stated that the ministry was also deliberating on the desirability of bringing back the Russian firm that constructed the Ajaokuta steel plant or engaging other companies from China, India and Nigerians to get the place working maximally for the benefit of the country.

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Entertainment

“You‘re joking”, Kanayo .O. Kanayo, dares FG over ban on money rituals, smoking in movies

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Veteran actor Kanayo .O. Kanayo alongside music icon Mike Okri has frowned at the Federal Government’s recent approval of the prohibition of smoking and glamorizing of money rituals and killings in Nigerian films, skits and music videos, describing such development as ‘a joke.’

The government on Wednesday, through the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, Dr. Shaibu Husseini approved the “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Product, Nicotine Product Promotion, glamorization, display in movies, musical videos and skits” in pursuant to Section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004.

NFVCA boss made this known, while speaking at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood in partnership with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, held in Enugu.

However, reacting to the development, veteran musician, Mike Okri described the action of the federal government as a joke, adding “it’s a way to silence the movie industry.”

“Whoever is behind this from the FG is joking. It’s a way to silence the movie industry. They should focus on the real challenges facing the country,” Okri snapped.

Also, reacting, popular actor Kanay .O. Kanayo described the move, as ‘a sensible nonsense/. He said that the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa has no job for approving a move to gag the film makers.

Husseini stated that the censors board has continued to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry by ensuring that films/video works, musical videos and skits are free of depiction and glamorization of harmful substances like smoking of tobacco, violence, criminal acts, immoral acts, ritual killing and money ritual.

According to the NFVCB boss, “Today, we are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all of us as parents, guardians and stakeholders.”

He said after a series of engagements, the NFVCB in collaboration with the CAPPA decided to do a Subsidiary Regulations to cater for smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly spelt out in the extant Law.

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