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Nigerian lawmaker renovates 80 cemeteries to mark second year in office

by Folarin Kehinde August 5, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

House of Representatives member, Kabiru Maipalace, has sponsored the renovation of 80 cemeteries in Gusau and Tsafe Local Government Areas of Zamfara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maipalace represents Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency in Zamfara.

Speaking at the inauguration of the projects in Tsafe town on Tuesday, the lawmaker said the initiative was part of his constituency projects.

“Today, we embarked on the renovation of 80 cemeteries in Gusau and Tsafe LGAs as part of my second anniversary as a second-term member, House of Representatives for Gusau and Tsafe Federal Constituency,” he said

We had noticed the dilapidated conditions of our cemeteries in various communities across my constituency.

“As human beings, we know one day, all of us are going to be buried here; therefore, we must ensure we do good to improve the conditions of our last home.”

According to him, his decision to embark on the projects followed reports of the conditions of cemeteries from the constituents.

“As we all know in Islam, we know the value of keeping cemeteries in good condition, it prevents various disasters and calamities in the society,” he added.

The lawmaker promised to give allowances to cemeteries guards and workers, as well as provide working tools for them monthly.

Maipalace appealed to his constituents to intensify prayers against insecurity.

He appealed to the people of the state to continue supporting the government’s policies and programmes to promote peace and stability in the state.

Also speaking, the District Head of Tsafe East, Aliyu Abubakar, commended the lawmaker for the initiative and described it as a welcome development.

The traditional ruler urged other political office holders to emulate the lawmaker by reaching out to their constituents to address various challenges in society.

“On behalf of Tsafe Emirate Council, I extend our appreciation to the lawmaker and his team for initiating various projects to reduce various socio-economic challenges in the society,” he said.

August 5, 2025 0 comments

Breaking: Mele Kyari allegedly acquires two aircraft from Canada; may have secretly acquired Max Airline

by Leading Reporters March 24, 2025

written by Leading Reporters

The Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, Mele Kyari has allegedly acquired two aircraft from Canada, using a proxy identified simply as Mustapha. Kyari is also said to be in secret talks with Max Air which will manage the aircraft for him.

A discreet source revealed to LeadingReporters that the airlines currently undergoing upgrades in Canada will soon join Max Air Limited’s air fleet in a matter of months.

The source also said that the choice of routing the aircraft from Canada was to forestall any possible eyebrow and to avoid the possibility of the transaction being traced to him.

“Using the United States of America for such transaction is considered dicey for a public office holder like Mele Kyari. Because of Donald Trump, most Nigerian public officeholders avoid transacting with US companies. Those aircraft will soon hit the Nigeria airspace, under Max Air Limited.

Recall that MaxAir was suspended by The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for three months following a near-fatal incident at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on 28 January 2025, a move Kyari cashed in on and offered to help the airline restore its license and quash the suspension.

The source hinted that a group of Nigerian professionals in the United States of America, the League of Patriots is currently liaising with authorities in Canada to unravel further information on the transaction which they vowed to publish to the knowledge of Nigerians once they finish their investigations.

Engr Mele Kyari has been in the eyes of the storm for years now. While his friends and associates see him as a patriot who has contributed immensely to the growth of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, most Nigerians believe that his administration as the head of the oil and gas umpire in Nigeria has been laden with untamed corruption.

All efforts to reach the NNPC Ltd GCEO were unsuccessful as all his known lines were switched off at the time of this publication.

March 24, 2025 0 comments

General Headlines

Policy inconsistencies, budget of N1.1b for meal: Why Tinubu must sack JAMB Registrar and scrap the agency

by Folarin Kehinde February 4, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has been called to, as a matter of national importance and for his educational policies to succeed, sack the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB, Prof. Isaq Oloyede for policy summersault and for his inability to align JAMB along the educational policy of the current admission.

For almost 10 years, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Isaq Oloyede has been at the helms of affairs of the institution since his appointment by former President, Muhammadu Buhari with many policy irregularities linked to his track records.

In 2017, a lopsided and one-sided policy adopted by JAMB led to an avoidable fracas between JAMB and Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) University of Ibadan Chapter with the like of Dr Deji Omole calling on the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede to voluntarily resign from office for his lack of visionary leadership.

The Academic Union also asked the former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to call the registrar to order to lessen the difficulty being experienced by the candidates. The JAMB leader Prof. Isaq is has continued to bring out policies without consultation with other stakeholders in the educational sector. Such policies have always become a log on the wheel of educational policy in Nigeria.

Dr Omole said the board had outlived its usefulness and the best thing is to scrap it and allow universities design their standard examination for their own candidates.

He noted that the fact that a mock examination was stopped due to logistic reasons underscored the point of incompetence of the Registrar, noting that if candidates could not do mock, how sure are they to pass the examination.

“Why will anybody make life difficult for candidates whose parents are struggling to live under the terrible condition the government has made them to live in?”

“Why would somebody introduce changes that are only known by members of the board? We have made case for the scrapping of this body because in the present instance, the introduction of different registration procedures has turned candidates to victims of fraud.”

“While different centres now make business by arranging with private schools who bring all their students in group to come and register, children of the masses who cannot afford such privileges look on in despair and helplessness.”

“This is a failed approach to change and the Registrar admitted this with the cancellation of the mock examination. How can we ensure that the candidates prepare well for the exams when they spend weeks waiting for Personal Identification Number and are at the mercy of registration officers who force them to go to cybercafes where they have arrangements to first create their profile before they can have their PIN”

“This is where people are duping Nigerian children. This is a total failure. Students must have at least three months for registration, its procedure must be open and their options to public universities must not be limited to serve the agenda of the proprietors of private universities”, he argued.

In 2018, the nation went agog with the news of a whopping sum of N36m reportedly swallowed by snake under the watch of Oloyede, according to report a “mystery snake” sneaked into JAMB accounts office and made away with the N36m cash, the money was said to be from the purchases of scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated centres.

Recently, JAMB allocated a whooping ₦1.1 billion for staff meals in its 2025 budget, describing it as a measure to enhance productivity and protect sensitive ICT infrastructure, one would wonder if the institution is meant for eating and drinking alone.

To put this in context, early this year a sacked deputy director of the JAMB, Mr Yisa Usman, alluded to the corruption in the institution when he told the Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, that he faced threats for exposing corruption at the board.

Usman disclosed this during cross-examination as sole witness in the suit he instituted against JAMB over his alleged unlawful dismissal.

While the controversy about either post UTME should be abolished or not (another milk cow), the current challenges facing prospective candidates applying for 2025 UTME is more worrisome, a check by this medium discovered students at Kado JAMB zonal office, Abuja over-crowded under the scorching sun waiting to be attended to. The board had stated that it has commenced the accreditation of centres, a critical first step in preparation for the annual examination. The board stated that “All new Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres who desire to participate in the 2025 UTME exercise are to first visithttps://www.jamb.gov.ng/Pdfs/CBT_centre_requirements.pdf to avail themselves of the requirements for establishing a JAMB-approved CBT centre.”

To avoid stampede as recorded in 2017 at the JAMB office in Ikoyi, Lagos which many candidates sustained various degrees of injuries and to end irregularities and corruption in the institution with no end, it is high time President Bola Tinubu immediately sack Prof Isaq Oloyede or he voluntarily resign immediately.

February 4, 2025 0 comments

General

Only experienced and Authorised body can train the public in Auctioneering sector – NAA President

by Folarin Kehinde November 21, 2024

written by Folarin Kehinde

The President, Nigeria Association of Auctioneers, Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya has re-echoed the need to reorganised the Auctioneering sector and it’s importance to national economy growth.

Kiliya bore his minds on issues affecting the sector and stressed that only the association of Auctioneers can train and educate the public on the best practices which are accepted world-wide.

Excerpt…

Question. Sir, for the purpose of readers who are knowing for the first time introduce yourself.

Answer. Thank you very much , my name is Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya, the President of Nigeria Association of Auctioneers, am from Zamfara state of Nigeria.

Question, How did you venture in the auctioneering business?

Answer. It dated many years back ,I have been in the business for over forty years, after my retirement from public office from Sokoto state, that is after working in North Western state of Nigeria , as secretary of Board of Survey, I venture into the business, which I was elected the Zamfara state chairman of the body, I later became the zonal chairman of North West, which I did two terms and eventually I was elected the National President, I have done my first term, am going on the second term now.

Question. How is this sector important to national building?

Answer. Thank you very much . You know work is mainly to sell properties out to the public . The National Association of Auctioneers have in the past ,raised money to sponsor 2017,2018, and 2019 budgets. This was made possible after I wrote to then president that we should be permitted to sell some national assets to raise money which we did. So,coming back to your question, if Mr president can allow us to do so, we can raise money through sales for the country and raise money to implement the budget, the won’t be any need to borrow money for that.

Question: Sir,I can see many of your members running up and down about training of the members by another institution?

Answer. It’s s very funny how we play in this country. We are taking about a sensitive organisation which deals with important materials and properties guided by law,operate by given standard rules and regulations ,then someone or a group of persons will come in the name of institution to train people?

The truth is ,only experienced members of Nigeria Association of Auctioneers led by myself as the president have the right to train the public on best practices of the association .I advise the public, not to be misled by anyone to fall in trouble through short change information by any institution who is soliciting or calling people to come for training.

Question. As the president what is the way forward sir?

Answer . The way forward is for the current administration of president Tinubu to partner with us to increase the revenue for the government. These are things I have done for previous administrations and am ready with my team to do. One thing about the business of Auctioneering is that ,most of the government officials don’t know what belong to government even after the privatisation.

For example, the managing director of Alcon once came to my office to appreciate me for putting him through and the money he made through the association. I also educated most government agencies that core assets remains government properties not buyers and money is made here too.

Question. What are some of your achievements?

Sir The achievements are a lot ,but I will mention a little , I personally stopped buyers from taken away core assets of public companies away, I also approached Bayero university Kano to have the public and our members be informed on public Auctioneering education in Hausa,Igbo,Yoruba and English, I was asked to bring the curriculum, we also have a bill at national assembly to regulate our practice, I recovered some government properties taken away by members of the public after government privatised some companies, I printed original registration forms for our members to stop forge members and impersonation, etc.

Question Aside the auctioning, what other things do you do sir?

Answer. I do many things,am a farmer ,business man and consultant. Am a consultant with the bank of industries, also an agent with the Asset management debt recovery,,Auctioneering consultant with the Transmission company of Nigeria, consultant with AG mortgage bank, retained Auctioners with cooperate affairs commission,,registered Auctioneers with NNPC,,Unity bank plc, and various public institutions ..

Question. Sir. With all these many years of practice and leading the sector from local to regional and national level, do you think you still what to offer ?
Answer. Yes!
Question. Like what ?
Answer. Nobody is tired of serving his father land ,especially if you love it. The sector is part of me and I have contributed all to make it grow to this level , though I have reached where I want it to be, my plan is to stabilise it to level of no misbehave by members, through quality education, practice the business with the laws governing it, working as a team and in unity, discipline of members, and above respecting the constitution of the body,so that nobody can wake up one day to come deceive our members and Nigerians .

We also partner with EFCC, ICPC,Police,judiciary and other sectors in the country to operate our business, therefore we need to be always on the right track backed by law.

November 21, 2024 0 comments

General

Group urges FG to create YouthWASH Fund to boost innovation, creativity in Nigeria

by Folarin Kehinde November 20, 2024

written by Folarin Kehinde

A Non – Governmental Organization, NGO known as Youth WASH initiative Africa has called on federal government to create a youth WASH Fund to provide funding for young people to explore their ideas and innovations in the sector.

The Executive Director of the group, Nature Obiakor made this calls in an interview with pressmen at the Digital hangout in celebrating 5 years of the campaign in Nigeria, and to commemorate the World Toilet Day held in Abuja.

Obiakor encouraged the government to create spaces for young people in the sector, involving them from conceptualization to implementation.

He mentioned that there are already many policies on sanitation, hygiene, and water, but the challenge is in their interpretation and implementation.

According to him, young people and rural communities need to understand these policies better.

“if we want to talk about the federal government already has a lot of policies, too many policies on sanitation, policies on hygiene and policies on water. But the major challenge with these policies has been one interpretation of the policies.

“These policies have to be unbundled to make the young people, the rural people, understand what the policy is talking about, because some of these policies are on their shelves.

“Then secondly, we want to ask what talk to government about is to also see how they can create a space for young people within the sector, because we see that, or from my experience so far, that young people don’t really have space, even though it’s a claim that young people are being given space. But when it comes to the practical implementation, young people need to be carried along, from conceptualizing, from conceptualization to planning, up to implementation,” he stated.

Furthermore, Obiakor emphasized the need for young people to be involved in practical implementation, not just as beneficiaries.

He added programs should be designed to include young people and budget resources for their involvement.

He charged developmental partners to prioritize working with NGOs to allow for effective program implementation.

Meanwhile, Obiakor while announcing the unveiling of a new project, called Youth Watch Digital Media Hangouts explained that the project aim at engaging young people using digital spaces for mobilization, monitoring, and evaluation.

He added that the project aligns with Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goal to ensure no one is left behind, noting that the digital platform will help achieve the organization’s goals more effectively.

Youth Watch Initiative Africa is a youth organization focused on mobilizing and engaging young people in issues related to water, sanitation, and hygiene.

The organization aims to protect and uphold the human right to water, sanitation, and hygiene, and supports the government in implementing related initiatives. The primary focus is on involving young people in issues of sanitation, energy, and other developmental areas.

November 20, 2024 0 comments

General

by Leading Reporters April 22, 2024

written by Leading Reporters

April 22, 2024 0 comments

General Headlines

In 2024, 63 Government-Owned Enterprises are projected to generate N4.93 trillion, expend N3.77 trillion, and remit N1.45 trillion

by Leading Reporters February 10, 2024

written by Leading Reporters

A comprehensive list of the 63 Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) reveals significant revenue projections, expenditures, and remittances to the federal government for the year 2024.

Among these entities are prominent organizations such as the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Health Insurance Scheme, Nigerian Customs Service, and many more. Each GOE has outlined its specific financial plan for the year, with entities like the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria projecting to earn N903,080,000.00 in revenue, expend N1,808,190,693.00, and transfer N363,080,000.00 to the federal government.

Similarly, the Corporate Affairs Commission has projected earnings of N28,518,447,500.00, expenditure of N14,259,223,750.00, and a remittance of N11,407,379,000.00 to the Federal Government. GOEs play a crucial role in the country’s commercial landscape, with substantial financial resources at their disposal.

The detailed financial projections of these GOEs were disclosed in a budget proposal submitted to the federal government by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and accessed by Our Reporters. The National Assembly’s approval of the 2024 appropriation bill on December 30, 2023, resulted in an increased budget size from the initial N27.5 trillion proposed by President Bola Tinubu to N28.7 trillion. This adjustment, totaling N1.2 trillion, is attributed to the optimistic revenue forecasts from these government enterprise entities.

Among the 63 GOEs are Administrative Staff College Of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, Council For The Regulation Of Freight Forwarding In Nigeria, Federal Airport Authority Of Nigeria, Federal Competition And Consumer Protection Commission, Federal Housing Authority, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria, Federal Road Safety Corps, Financial Reporting Council Of Nigeria, Industrial Training Fund, Joint Admission And Matriculation Board, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, National Agency For Food & Drug Administration & Control, National Automotive Design And Development Council, National Broadcasting Commission, National Business And Technical Examination Board, National Examination Council, National Film And Video Censors Board, National Health Insurance Scheme, National Information Technology Development Agency, National Inland Waterways Authority, National Insurance Commission, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, National Lottery Trust Fund, National Office For Technology Acquisition And Promotion, National Pension Commission, National Space Research And Development Agency and National Sugar Development Council.

Others are Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Integrated Water Management Commission, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, Nigerian Communication Commission, Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Film Corporation, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency, Nigerian Midstream And Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Nigerian Port Authority, Nigerian Postal Service, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Television Authority, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oil And Gas Free Zone Authority, Raw Materials Research And Development Council, Securities And Exchange Commission, Standards Organization Of Nigeria and Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

February 10, 2024 0 comments

General General

President Tinubu’s wife, neglect Nigeria, donates $100,000 for construction of first-class medical centre in Sierra-Leone.

by Leading Reporters February 6, 2024

written by Leading Reporters

According to Nigerians in Diaspora, Sierra Leone Chapter (NIDO, SL), the donation is in fulfillment of her pledge toward the construction of a first-class medical centre for Nigerians in Sierra Leone.

The donation, according to a press statement by the organization, is a fulfillment of her pledge toward the construction of a first-class medical centre for Nigerians in Sierra Leone.

NIDO President in Sierra Leone, Engineer Abiodun Oyebola, requested her support due to the dire and urgent need for a medical centre, due to the dilapidated state of healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone. The NIDO MEDICAL CENTRE when completed and becomes operational will go a long way to address the medical needs of over 40,000 Nigerians living in Sierra Leone, and will no doubt complement the efforts of His Excellency, President Julis Maada Bio in closing the gaps in the health sector.

Nigeria’s First Lady met with a cross-section of members of the Nigerians in Diaspora, Sierra Leone on Sunday, November 19, 2023, during her visit to the country as the Special Guest of Honour to the commemoration of UN World Day, hosted by Her Excellency, Dr. Fatima Bio, the First lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation NIDO Sierra Leone SL was formed pursuant to a directive by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM in Abuja, headed by Hon Abike Dabiri. Hon. Dabiri-Erewa played a pivotal role in her characteristic professional way. Right from Abuja, she coordinated the meeting which proved to be the platform for Her Excellency, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu to meet with and inform the Nigerians in Sierra Leone of the great efforts being undertaken by her husband, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to revamp the Nigerian ailing economy. The meeting, no doubt was huge success. Nigerians in attendance were able to interact directly with Her Excellency, The First Lady, to get first-hand information and clarifications on various issues on the economy, security, social development, etc, raised by the executive members, Patrons and members of the Board of Trustees of the NIDO SL, led by their President, Abiodun Oyebola.

The donation came in from the Renewed Hope Initiative, the humanitarian pet project of Her Excellency, Senator Tinubu. This is a very big boost to alleviate the challenges being faced by Nigerians in Sierra Leone, especially in the health delivery sector of the country. Recall that Sierra Leone is still grappling with the consequences of the 11-year brutal civil war that destroyed all national social infrastructure. Just as the government is struggling to reinstate the health and educational infrastructure, it recorded a big setback with the outbreak of the Ebola virus which ravaged the country from 2014 to early 2016 and killed over 4,000 people in the country. This was further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020 to 2022.

Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Sierra Leone Chapter remains a trailblazer among the various NIDO chapters all over the world. NIDO Sierra Leone is the first to organise the largest single gathering of Nigerians abroad under one roof during the inauguration of President Abiodun Oyebola and his executives on July 6, 2019, where over 4, 500 Nigerians gathered to celebrate our national unity. This remains the largest gathering to date.

Similarly, the NIDO MEDICAL CENTRE, a project for non-profit, is the first of its kind in the diaspora. It is therefore not surprising that NIDO Sierra Leone is the First Chapter to formally receive and have in audience our dear First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu who coincidentally was in Sierra Leone on her very first official trip outside Nigeria and in her capacity as the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

February 6, 2024 0 comments

General

Exam Malpractice: WAEC withholds over 200,000 results

by Folarin Kehinde August 8, 2023

written by Folarin Kehinde

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results of 262,803 candidates.

The exam spanned seven weeks from May 8 to June 23, 2023.

Addressing reporters on Monday in Lagos, WAEC’s Head of the Nigeria National Office (HNO), Patrick Areghan, said, the withheld results represented 16.29% of the total 1,613,733 candidates that sat the examination.

According to him: “The results of 262,803 candidates, representing 16.29% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. This is (6.54%) lower than the 22.83% recorded in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2022.

“The reasons for this are not far-fetched. Candidates are no longer ready to study, they lack self-confidence, and their preparations for examinations are poor. There is over-reliance on the so-called ‘Expo’, which is non-existent. Candidates got frustrated when they got to the examination hall and discovered that all they had celebrated was fake.”

He said the council would continue to sanction cases of examination malpractice, advising parents to stop funding the so-called “expo” (illegal scouting for question papers outside of examination halls) for their children.

August 8, 2023 0 comments

General

Strike: Hope in Sight As ASUU/FG Resumes Negotiation

by Folarin Kehinde August 16, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is scheduled to meet with Federal Government representatives on Tuesday over its prolonged strike.

President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, who disclosed this on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said the meeting was to discuss one of seven issues ASUU is protesting over.

“That’s the issue of renegotiation,” Osodeke said.

“The renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

“It’s not just about wages. It has to do with the system, funding, the structure, the autonomy and other issues and how to fund universities.

“The government has reduced it to just salaries alone. But if they had looked at the whole agreement and implemented it, we would not be talking about funding.”

Osodeke also suggested that if Tuesday’s meeting goes well, the strike action may be called off.

“We are willing to sign,” he added.

Recall that ASUU, on February 14, shut down public universities over the inability of the Federal Government to implement previous agreements both parties entered into.

The lecturers’ agitations include funding for the revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution, promotion arrears and others.

August 16, 2022 0 comments

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