Nelson Ugwuagbo

Gunmen attacked Unguwar Rogo in Ugom community, Maro Ward of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on New Year’s Day, causing significant destruction and displacing residents.

Zamani Ishaku, a resident of Maro, confirmed the incident, lamenting the recurring assaults on the area by armed groups.

In a statement, the Chairman of the Ugom Progressive Union, Ishaya Onussim, detailed the attack’s impact, reporting vandalism, theft of farm produce, and arson. Six houses were set ablaze, and the ECWA Church in Unguwar Rogo was burned down after the attackers looted valuables from the church and its pastorium.

“All the residents fled into the bushes, abandoning their belongings in a bid to save their lives,” Onussim said.

He appealed for urgent government intervention and called for increased security presence to protect the community. Onussim also urged Nigerians to pray for the safety and recovery of the affected residents.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and their deputies, Barau Jibrin and Ben Kalu, have been allocated ₦10 billion for rent and furniture in the 2024 supplementary budget of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES reveals.

The allocation, classified under the budget item “Renting and Furnishing of Presiding Officers of the National Assembly” with the code 23010309, was included in the ₦288 billion supplementary budget submitted by President Bola Tinubu in September. The budget was passed by lawmakers within five days.

Nigeria’s bicameral legislature comprises four presiding officers: the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Senate President, and the Deputy Speaker.

This development follows other high-profile housing allocations overseen by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, including ₦21 billion for a residential mansion for Vice President Kashim Shettima and ₦25 billion for constructing homes for 40 judges.

Observers note that the latest allocation highlights a pattern of substantial government spending on accommodation projects across the executive, judiciary, and legislative arms under Wike’s leadership.

These expenditures come amid widespread economic hardship in Nigeria, attributed to the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector and the naira’s devaluation. In recent weeks, multiple stampedes have claimed lives as citizens scrambled for food aid.

Critics have accused the current administration of maintaining “lavish spending” despite its calls for austerity measures. Notable expenses include a $100 million presidential jet, the failed presidential yacht project, luxury vehicles for National Assembly members, and other high-cost initiatives.

Nigeria and three other African nations will host the Chinese Foreign Minister and member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Wang Yi, from January 5 to January 11, 2025.

The planned visits, which include stops in Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and Chad, were announced in a statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Friday. According to Mao, the visits are being conducted at the invitation of the respective countries.

This marks the 35th consecutive year that the Chinese foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year is dedicated to Africa, underscoring China’s commitment to its diplomatic ties with the continent.

Wang Yi’s visits are part of his annual tradition aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between China and African nations.

“There is no magic that will make Tinubu lose the 2027 presidential election,” Zazzaga said. “This is not due to the incumbency factor but because Nigerians will appreciate the positive impact of his policies by 2027“

The Chairman of the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure reelection in the 2027 presidential race, citing his administration’s policies and achievements as key factors.

In a statement released on Friday, Zazzaga asserted that Tinubu’s bold economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, have laid the foundation for Nigeria’s economic recovery and will earn him massive support from voters in the next election.

“There is no magic that will make Tinubu lose the 2027 presidential election,” Zazzaga said. “This is not due to the incumbency factor but because Nigerians will appreciate the positive impact of his policies by then.”

Zazzaga’s remarks were a response to statements by Kano State New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Chairman, Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, who warned Tinubu to prepare for defeat in 2027 due to what he described as anti-people policies.

Dungurawa, addressing journalists in Kano on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, claimed that Tinubu’s administration has worsened the plight of Nigerians, predicting that NNPP’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would emerge victorious in 2027.

“With these harsh anti-masses policies, just prepare for defeat in the next general elections,” Dungurawa said. “We will ensure that Tinubu is out in 2027, and Kwankwaso, a true democrat, comes in.”

In his response, Zazzaga dismissed Dungurawa’s comments, emphasizing the necessity of Tinubu’s economic reforms.

“President Tinubu’s decisions, such as subsidy removal and floating the naira, are courageous steps that previous administrations avoided. These policies are already yielding results, including the strengthening of the naira, increased oil production, and a rise in foreign reserves,” Zazzaga stated.

He added that Tinubu’s administration has addressed long-standing issues in the petroleum sector, eliminating fuel scarcity and laying the groundwork for reduced inflation.

The APC chieftain also highlighted Tinubu’s proposed tax reforms, describing them as “pro-poor” and beneficial to small businesses.

Zazzaga noted that the North-Central APC Forum had endorsed Tinubu for a second term after assessing his administration’s performance in areas such as security, infrastructure, and economic development.

“Since the current democratic dispensation, no other president has provided as many opportunities or infrastructural projects to the North-Central region as President Tinubu,” he said.

According to Zazzaga, the administration’s efforts have significantly reduced insecurity in the North-Central region, allowing farmers to return to their fields and boosting agricultural activities.

The North-Central APC Forum, he added, is committed to mobilizing support for Tinubu’s reelection, just as it did in the 2023 election.

The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stated that there is currently no merger agreement between his party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), or any other political party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday morning, the former governor of Anambra State dismissed reports of any alliance, emphasizing that no formal agreement has been reached with other political groups.

Obi, however, called on all well-meaning Nigerians in the political space to unite in 2027 to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of poor governance and resource mismanagement.

He expressed concerns over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, lamenting the continuous loss of lives to banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping-for-ransom.

“The security challenges in Nigeria remain unfortunate, with Nigerians dying needlessly,” Obi said.

He also criticized the high level of corruption and the rising cost of governance under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to him, the excessive foreign travels of government officials in 2024 worsened the mismanagement of public funds.

Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election, Obi noted that Tinubu secured victory by winning 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states and polling 8,794,726 votes. His closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, garnered 6,984,520 votes, while Obi finished third with 6,101,533 votes, a significant achievement for a first-time presidential candidate.

Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP, who placed fourth with 1,496,687 votes, claimed victory in his home state of Kano. Interestingly, both Obi and Kwankwaso were members of the PDP before leaving the party due to irreconcilable differences in the lead-up to the 2023 elections.

Obi’s remarks signal a strategic focus on building a broad coalition to challenge the APC in the next presidential election while highlighting pressing national issues that demand urgent attention.

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, on Thursday visited former Head of State General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retired) at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

Obi described the visit as an opportunity to exchange ideas on national issues with the elder statesman, whom he referred to as a “father figure.”

“From Jigawa State, I travelled to Minna, Niger State, to pay a visit to a father figure, elder statesman, and leader, the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, at his residence,” Obi wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account, sharing photos from the meeting.

He added, “The visit was an opportunity to wish him a happy New Year and to exchange thoughts on national issues. General Babangida’s wisdom and perspectives remain very important, and I always deeply appreciate the chance to visit him and listen to his invaluable advice and words of wisdom.”

A new generational cohort, Generation Beta, is set to officially begin in 2025, marking the end of Generation Alpha, according to a report by social researchers.

Generation Beta will include those born between 2025 and 2039, as detailed in a blog post by social researcher Mark McCrindle, who has been credited with defining the past two generational labels. Generation Alpha, which includes individuals born between 2010 and 2024, will phase out as the new generation makes its debut.

According to McCrindle, Generation Beta will comprise 16% of the global population by 2035, with many expected to live to see the 22nd century.

This emerging generation is anticipated to grow up in an era of unprecedented technological integration. McCrindle noted that Generation Beta is likely to be the first to experience advancements such as autonomous transportation, wearable health technologies, and immersive virtual environments as part of everyday life.

In addition to adapting to rapid technological progress, Generation Beta is expected to face significant global challenges, including climate change and shifting social norms.

The practice of naming generations gained prominence in the mid-20th century, starting with the “Baby Boomers” (born 1946–1964), a label inspired by the post-war population surge. The trend continued with researchers Neil Howe and William Strauss, who defined generational cohorts based on cultural and historical events.

Other generational labels include the Builders (1925–1945), Generation X (1965–1979), Millennials (1980–1994), and Generation Z (1995–2009). Generation Alpha (2010–2024) marked the first cohort born entirely in the 21st century.

McCrindle predicts that Generation Beta will inherit a world shaped by rapid advancements and evolving societal structures, ultimately carving out its own unique identity in history.

Pastor Abel Damina, founder of Abel Damina Ministries and Power City International, has stirred controversy with his statement that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are not sinful acts.

During his New Year’s Eve sermon on Tuesday, Pastor Damina argued that these behaviors are often misrepresented as sins, emphasizing that they are not inherently wrong.

“I’ve told you alcohol is not a sin. I’ve told you cigar is not a sin. If you like, put it on a newspaper headline, I said it,” he declared.

However, the pastor clarified that his position was not an endorsement of such behaviors. He advised his audience to exercise discretion and wisdom.

“Am I saying you should smoke? You should have sense from your father’s house to know that cigar will cut short your life. Am I saying you should drink alcohol? You should know that if you drink alcohol, you will lie down inside a gutter. Your shirt and trousers will disappear. You should have the sense to know that,” he said.

Pastor Damina also challenged conventional theological interpretations of sin, using the story of Adam and Eve as an example. He questioned the long-held belief that their sin was caused by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

“Adam and Eve ate nothing,” he said. “Were you there? You were not there. So how do we know whether they ate something or not? Jesus was there. Was Jesus there in the Garden of Eden? Yes. Can Jesus explain to us what happened? Yes.”

Citing Mark 7:18-21, Pastor Damina argued that sin is not determined by what a person consumes but by the state of their heart. He stated, “If they (Adam and Eve) ate, it’ll go to their stomach. It’ll digest and go to the toilet. They’ll be free. There’s nothing a man eats that enters his heart. It’ll go to the digestive system, and it’ll go out somehow. It is what comes out of a man that defiles a man, not what goes in. What makes you a sinner is what you’re thinking, not what you’re eating.”

The sermon has sparked widespread debate among Christians and theologians, with many questioning traditional teachings on sin and morality.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) turned down a $750 million offer from billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.

In an exclusive interview with Channels Television, Obasanjo disclosed that the offer was made in 2007 as part of a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative aimed at improving the efficiency of the refineries.

According to Obasanjo, Dangote and his team had already made the $750 million payment when the NNPC rejected the proposal, insisting that it could manage the refineries on its own.

He recounted, “Aliko got a team together and they paid $750m to take part in a PPP arrangement for running the refineries. My successor refunded their money, and I went to him to explain what had transpired. His response was that NNPC claimed they could run the refineries. I told him, ‘But you know they cannot run it.’”

Obasanjo further lamented the poor state of Nigeria’s refineries, noting that despite the rejection of Dangote’s offer, billions of dollars have been spent on the refineries without any significant improvement.

“I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries, and they still will not work,” he added.

The Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, two of Nigeria’s key oil processing facilities, have long been plagued by inefficiencies and mismanagement, leaving the country heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products.