FRANCOPHONE AFRICA IS ABANDONING FRANCE. WHAT WENT WRONG? The previous expulsion of French troops from the region saw countries invite and embrace alternative partners like Russia and China. To usher Ivorians into the new year, President Alassane Ouattara announced that French troops in Côte d’Ivoire will hand over the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (BIMA), a French army base located in …

FG, 21 STATES EYE N2.5TN VAT REVENUE IN 2025 Nigeria’s federal government and 21 out of the 36 states in the federation have targeted a combined Value Added Tax revenue of N2.5 trillion for 2025 in their respective budget estimates. This figure was derived from financial reports released by the Federation Account Allocation Committee between October 2023 and March 2024. …

FG BEGINS TO DIRECT ALLOCATIONS TO LGS THIS MONTH The federal government will this month begin direct payment of monthly allocations to the 774 local governments. The commencement marks the termination of an age-old practice whereby the allocations are channelled through states. In furtherance of the new development made possible by a Supreme Court judgment passed over five months ago, …

ENUGU RANGERS: STILL FANNING THE FLAMES Mazi Jaka captured the situation in Igbo land after the civil war thus: “At the end of the war, the leadership class in Igbo land was in tatters and lacking in confidence. Many had died or been killed during the war. Some others had fled into exile and what was left in the country …

ENUGU MONARCH SUSPENDED OVER ILLEGAL MINING The traditional ruler of Akpakwume Community of Enugu State, HRH Ekwueme Odenigbo, has been suspended indefinitely by the Enugu State government over his alleged involvement in illegal mining activities. The traditional ruler’s suspension was conveyed in a letter entitled “Letter of indefinite suspension” signed by the state commissioner for the Ministry of Local Government, …

IPMAN OPTIMISTIC OF IMMINENT DROP IN FUEL PRICES The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ukadike Chinedu, has expressed optimism about the declining price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Nigeria. He attributed this trend to improved pricing, accessibility, and procurement processes within the petroleum sector. Speaking on Saturday, January 11, 2024, Chinedu noted …

LESSONS FROM OHANAEZE NDIGBO ELECTION, BY ATIKU ABUBAKAR Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has shared his thoughts on the recent Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide election, highlighting key lessons that can be applied to Nigeria’s progress. Atiku, in a statement issued by his media aide Paul Ibe, congratulated the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, on his victory. He agreed …

NATIONAL GRID TRIPPED OFF, DIDN’T COLLAPSE —TCN The Transmission Company, TCN, of Nigeria has clarified that the National Grid did not collapse but rather tripped off on Saturday, January 11, 2025. The spokesperson of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, made this clarification in a statement on Saturday. This comes as it emerged that the National Grid recorded its first collapse in 2025 …

HOW POOR REGULATION OF INSTANT PAYMENT SYSTEM FUELS CRIMINALITY IN NIGERIA.‘”When they announced that we had been kidnapped, at first, I was just laughing. I was busy looking for a hidden camera because I thought it was a prank. You know, the usual pranks on social media,” Kemi Gbadamosi* recounted her ordeal at the hands of a criminal gang operating …

NIGERIAN ARMY REDEPLOYS SENIOR OFFICERS In a strategic move to enhance operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede has approved the posting cum appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army (NA) to various command, staff and instructional positions. A statement Saturday by army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachuckwu Saturday disclosed …

IDOLATRY FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN SOUTH EAST – GOV SOLUDO, URGES CHRISTIAN LEADERS TO SALVAGE THE SITUATION Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has described idolatry as the fastest-growing religion in the South-East. The governor who made the statement while addressing over 170 Anglican bishops at their annual retreat in Awka, urged religious leaders to promote morals and eradicate criminality. …

SACKED PDP NATIONAL SECRETARY, ANYANWU RISKS JAIL AS COURT ISSUES LAST WARNING An Enugu High Court has restrained the sacked National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from parading himself as the party’s scribe, failure of which he risks being committed to prison. The order, contained in a judgment delivered by the presiding judge, C.O. Ajah, …

DESPITE BORROWING OVER $3.2BN, NIGERIA’S POWER GENERATION REMAINS AT 4500MW Nigeria has borrowed over $3.23 billion in the last four years to fix its electricity problems, but the country still cannot produce more than about 4,500 megawatts of power for its 200 million people. Different international organisations like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Japan International Cooperation …

EFCC INVITES OKOYA’S SONS OVER ABUSE OF NAIRA IN VIRAL VIDEOS The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has invited Subomi and Wahab, the sons of billionaire businessman Razaq Okoya, for interrogation over alleged abuse of the naira. The Okoya brothers were in the news a few days ago after a video clip capturing them “abusing” the naira surfaced on …

NIGERIA FOOLING ITSELF OVER BORDER CLOSURE – NASS The National Assembly, through its joint committee on Industry, Trade and Investment, has declared that Nigeria is fooling itself over border closure in view of cross border banditry taking place in states sharing borders with Niger and the Republic of Chad. Lamentation on closed but porous borders came to the fore during …