OYO, ABUJA, ANAMBRA STAMPEDES: SIGNS OF NIGERIA’S SYSTEMIC FAILURES –OBI Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has expressed sadness over the tragic loss of lives in stampedes during collection of food palliatives in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja. About 40 children died in a stampede during a children’s funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo …

WE’RE NOT OFFERING N25,000 CHRISTMAS GIFT – ABIA GOVT The Abia State Government has disowned a fake Christmas grant advertisement trending on social media. The advert declares a N25,000 Christmas cash grant from Governor Alex Otti for the people of Abia, with a link provided for interested persons to apply. However, the Abia State government disowned the advert, describing those …

20 FEARED DEAD IN ANAMBRA COMMUNITY AS RICE DISTRIBUTION CAUSES STAMPEDE Not less than 20 residents of Okija community in Anambra State have reportedly lost their lives in a stampede. The stampede occurred on Saturday during an event for the distribution of rice. Multiple social media videos show lifeless bodies lying on the ground after the incident. The cable reports …

PETER OBI OFFERS TO MEET DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL CONDITIONS The Coordinator of the Obidient Movement globally has announced that former presidential candidate and movement leader, Peter Obi, has offered to fulfill the bail conditions for human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi. This comes after a Federal High Court granted Farotimi a ₦30 million bail following charges filed against him. Farotimi, known …

WE’VE ACHIEVED 80% SUCCESS AGAINST KIDNAPPING – RIBADU The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the security agencies recorded 80 per cent success against kidnapping in two years. Ribadu stated this at the official inauguration of the Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC) on Thursday in Abuja. “Within a short period of time, I can say less than …

THERE ARE HONEST POLICE OFFICERS IN NIGERIA On the night of January 29, 2024, four Nigeria Police officers led by Inspector Gambo Gamaraju were on patrol at a checkpoint on the Yola-Jalingo Road in Taraba State. That is not unusual. As police officers often do, they flagged down a passing car and in it, they found suspicious persons with suspicious …

PH REFINERY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AFTER $1.5BN REHABILITATION Less than a month after the Port Harcourt Refining Company appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.Our correspondent, who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped.It was gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, …

NIGERIA’S MOBILE SUBSCRIPTIONS HIT 157.3 MILLION IN OCTOBER, MTN, AIRTEL GAIN Nigeria’s mobile subscription base increased to 157.3 million in October 2024 from 154.6 million in September, signaling the beginning of recovery after months of decline. The growth was driven by two network operators, MTN, and Airtel, that recorded an increase in their subscriber base in the month under review. …

JUBILATION AS FORMER KOGI GOV, YAHAYA BELLO, ACCUSED OF STEALING N110.4B GOVT MONEY IS RELEASED ON BAIL Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has been captured in a rejoicing mood at home following his release from the Kuje Minimum Custodial Centre in Abuja after meeting his bail conditions. The embattled former governor was seen in the midst of jubilant supporters …

EKITI MAGISTRATE COURT CLAIMED RULING ON DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL APPLICATION MISSING The Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti had on Friday morning shockingly claimed that its ruling on the bail application filed by human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi is missing. The court was slated to give its ruling on the bail application filed by Farotimi, Friday morning. However, SaharaReporters gathered …

SOARING COSTS, SHRINKING INCOME DAMPEN YULETIDE CELEBRATIONS In this feature, VICTOR AYENI delves into the harsh realities facing Nigerian citizens and business owners as they grapple with shattered expectations of a festive and joyous Christmas. From the crippling high prices of food to the unavailability of physical cash to the devastating blow of low patronage, he mirrors the challenges that …

WE BUDGTED N213BN FOR ROAD, NOT N55BN – ENUGU GOVT The Enugu State Government has expressed dismay over a report in the December 19, 2024 edition of the Punch Newspaper stating that the government earmarked N55bn for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads in the state’s 2025 budget proposal by Governor Peter Mbah, while allocating N50.27bn …

HOW TINUBU’S ₦1B OFFER TO NASS MEMBERS AVERTED TAX REFORM SHOWDOWN DURING BUDGET PRESENTATION A fresh report has revealed an alleged offer to lawmakers prior to the Wednesday presentation of the 2025 budget to the national assembly last week. The Senate and the House of Representatives, at their separate plenaries on Thursday, passed for second reading the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ 2025 …

NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS –DOGARA A former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has attributed the North’s current state of backwardness to its leaders. He also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in transforming the nation through the tax reform bills currently awaiting the endorsement of the National Assembly. Dogara …

COURT RESTORES SUSPENDED EDO LG CHAIRMEN An Edo State High Court has ordered the restoration of the suspended local council chairmen in Edo State. The court, presided by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, issued the order on Friday, December 20, 2024. Justice Ikponmwonba gave the order while ruling on a suit filed by the embattled 18 council chairmen and the Edo State …