Headlines

A bomb explosion in Kawuri, a town in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, has claimed the life of Abba Godori, the vice chairman of the Kawuri unit of the Civilian Joint Taskforce (CJTF).

The explosion occurred on Tuesday, reportedly killing Godori while he was on patrol in the area.

An eyewitness, speaking anonymously, revealed that the bomb was believed to have been planted by terrorists the previous day.

“Mr. Godori was on patrol when he stepped on the bomb. He was following the footsteps of the terrorists until he stepped on the bomb,” the source stated.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said he had yet to receive official details about the incident.

“Personally, I am yet to get any information on that. Before nightfall, I would have ascertained what happened there,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a meeting with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, at the State House in Abuja.

The meeting is also being attended by key leaders from Ogoniland, representing four local government areas in Rivers State.

Although the agenda of the meeting has not been officially disclosed, it is believed to be connected to the political crisis in Rivers State, which has persisted since late 2023. The crisis has been fueled by a power tussle between Governor Fubara and Wike.

Among the Ogoniland leaders present at the meeting are Senators Lee Maeba, Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Victor Giadom, Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, Ledum Mitee, Bennett Birabi, Barry Mpigi, and Prof. B. Fakae.

Other notable attendees include National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Information and National Orientation Idris Mohammed, Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas, and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.

The meeting underscores efforts to address the lingering political tensions and foster peace and stability in Rivers State.

The Federal Ministry of Regional Development has called on the National Assembly to support its request for increased funding to effectively deliver on its mandate.

The Minister, Abubakar Momoh, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during his appearance before the joint committee on regional development to defend the ministry’s 2025 budget proposals.

Momoh highlighted the ministry’s commitment to working closely with the committee to achieve a workable and impactful budget. He noted that the ministry’s 2025 budget envelope is capped at N28.9 billion, comprising N24 billion for capital expenditure, N1.6 billion for recurrent expenditure, and N2.7 billion for personnel costs.

The minister expressed concern that the current budget allocation still reflects the structure of the defunct Ministry of Niger Delta Development rather than the broader mandate of addressing the development needs of all six regions in the country.

Despite these limitations, the 2025 budget includes N2 billion for youth and women empowerment and capacity-building programmes, N1 billion for livelihood support initiatives, and N600 million for medical outreach programmes targeting rural communities.

Momoh emphasized the need for judicious application of the limited capital budget, stating that the ministry would prioritize completing ongoing projects and focusing on initiatives with the greatest potential impact. He also stressed the importance of reducing abandoned and uncompleted projects while prioritizing human capital development, job creation, and social protection programs.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba, described the transformation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development into the Ministry of Regional Development as a landmark decision by the Federal Government.

Ipinsagba said the broader mandate reflects a commitment to inclusive and sustainable development across all regions while maintaining a focus on addressing the peculiar challenges of the Niger Delta.

“The new ministry serves as a beacon of hope for other regions facing similar development challenges,” Ipinsagba said, adding that the committee would thoroughly review the budget proposals to ensure alignment with the ministry’s expanded mandate.

He urged the ministry to focus on equitable development, economic inclusion, and national unity while commending its leadership for embracing its expanded role with vision and determination.

The Nigerian Senate has renewed its call for a national population census to be conducted before the end of the current administration in 2027.

This was reiterated during a budget defense session with the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, by the Senate Committee on National Identity Management and Population.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Abdul Ningi, assured that the Senate is committed to ensuring the census is conducted, stating, “We will not rest on our oars until a census is conducted before this administration ends.”

He revealed plans for the Senate to meet with President Bola Tinubu to emphasize the urgency of conducting the census in 2025. “We will soon engage the President on this matter and formally write to him through the Senate President, highlighting the need for a census this year,” Ningi said.

Senator Olalere Oyewunmi also stressed the importance of urging the President to prioritize the census, while Senator Diket Plang criticized the country’s reliance on estimated population figures, which he said hampers effective planning.

“It’s disheartening that we are still working with estimates in this modern age. How can we plan without knowing the exact population? We need to know our population and must ensure a definitive count by 2025,” Plang stated.

The NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, noted that the commission is yet to finalize the budget for the census, as it plans to include a biometric component in the process.

“We are waiting to incorporate the biometric aspect into this year’s budget and conduct a test run before meeting with the President. The President prefers a biometric model for the headcount, moving away from the conventional approach,” Kwarra said.

The Senate emphasized that conducting a census is crucial for effective national planning and development, urging all stakeholders to support the effort.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a 50% increase in tariffs for data and airtime, raising the cost of telecommunications services across the country.

Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s spokesman, announced the adjustment on Monday, stating that the approved increase is significantly lower than the over 100% requested by some network operators. He said the decision was made in consideration of ongoing reforms aimed at ensuring industry sustainability.

The adjustment aligns with the NCC’s regulatory powers under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA), which empowers the Commission to regulate and approve tariffs for telecommunications operators.

“These adjustments will remain within the tariff bands stipulated in the 2013 NCC Cost Study,” the statement read. “Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, following the recently issued NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024.”

According to the NCC, tariff rates have remained static since 2013 despite rising operational costs for telecom operators. The Commission explained that the new rates are intended to bridge the gap between current tariffs and operational expenses, ensuring service delivery is not affected.

“The approved adjustment aims to support operators in maintaining investments in infrastructure and innovation. This will ultimately benefit consumers through improved network quality, better customer service, and wider coverage,” the statement added.

Acknowledging the financial challenges faced by Nigerians, the NCC emphasized that operators must implement the changes transparently and fairly. It also directed them to educate the public about the new rates and demonstrate measurable improvements in service delivery.

As of December 2023, Nigeria recorded over 224 million active telecom subscribers, according to NCC data. MTN Nigeria leads the market with over 87 million subscribers, accounting for 38.79% of the total market share. Globacom and Airtel each have 61 million subscribers, while 9mobile serves 13.9 million users.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 30 for the hearing of a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, seeking to void all petrol import licenses granted to certain oil marketing companies.

Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the case on Monday to allow for the proper service of court papers on all parties involved.

During the resumed hearing, George Ibrahim, counsel for the plaintiff, informed the court that the session was originally scheduled for a report on the settlement or service of processes. However, he stated that the plaintiffs had been unable to serve the necessary documents due to a motion filed to amend their originating summons, following an error discovered in the initial application.

Counsel for the respondents, including Matthew Bukar (representing the NMDPRA), Ahmed Raji (representing A.Y.M. Shafa, A.A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Limited), and Divine Oguru (representing T. Time Petroleum and 2015 Petroleum Limited), confirmed that they had not received any court documents.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, was filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and several oil marketing firms, including A.Y.M. Shafa Holdings Limited, A.A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that, as a Free-Zone Enterprise registered under the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Act (NEPZA), it is exempted from all federal, state, and local government taxes, levies, and other charges. The plaintiff is also demanding N100 billion in damages from the defendants.

The case is expected to resume on January 30, 2025, for further proceedings.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday hosted his successor, Donald Trump, at the White House for a courtesy visit ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

The meeting, a long-standing tradition in the peaceful transition of power, symbolized the handover of leadership and continuity of governance in the United States. Biden, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, greeted Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the White House entrance.

In a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Bidens and the Trumps shared warm remarks before making their way inside the presidential residence. The visit was part of a series of ceremonial activities leading up to Trump’s swearing-in as the next president of the United States.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss matters of national interest and ensure a smooth transfer of power. While no details of their conversation were disclosed, such meetings typically include discussions on ongoing policies, challenges, and priorities for the incoming administration.

The First Ladies, Jill Biden and Melania Trump, also participated in the traditional courtesy visit, a gesture underscoring bipartisan respect and cooperation despite political differences.

Trump’s inauguration, scheduled for later this week, will mark the official beginning of his presidency, concluding Biden’s tenure as the 46th President of the United States. The peaceful transition of power remains a hallmark of American democracy, with the White House visit serving as a key moment in maintaining this tradition.