Nigeria

Folasade Tinubu-Ojo: Iyaloja General of Nigeria
Lagos News, Nigeria

Folasade Tinubu-Ojo: Iyaloja General of Nigeria

Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the daughter of Bola Tinubu Ahmed, the newly sworn in President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, describes herself as the Iyaloja General of Nigeria. Folasade was as at the 28th of May 2023, known as the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Nigeria. She previously served as the deputy president general of the Market men & women before being crowned as the Iyaloja general of Lagos. Her appointment as Iyaloja general of Lagos was not without controversy. Critics argued that she was not qualified in terms of age and market experience, while others believed it was a move by her father to increase his family's power in the state. Despite these hindrances, Folasade was officially installed as the new Iyaloja on 29 October 2013, with her stepmother, Oluremi Tinubu, the Oba of...
Nigerian Media Mogul, Raymond Dokpesi Passes on at 71
Life, News, Nigeria

Nigerian Media Mogul, Raymond Dokpesi Passes on at 71

The Nigerian media industry has lost a true icon with the passing of Raymond Dokpesi. The visionary entrepreneur, media mogul, and philanthropist was known for his unwavering commitment to the development of Nigeria's media landscape and his support for democracy in the country. Dokpesi founded Africa Independent Television (AIT), one of Nigeria's leading broadcast media institutions. He believed in the power of the media to speak truth to power and hold those in authority accountable. Throughout his career, he faced numerous legal and financial challenges but remained dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the empowerment of Nigerian citizens through the media. Dokpesi's impact on Nigeria's media industry cannot be overstated. He was a trailblazer who paved the way for many others i...
An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko
Elections, Justice, News, Nigeria

An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko

An open letter from a frontline legal practitioner to the CJN My Lord, I write, as a concerned member of the Nigerian bar, regarding a subject which has generated controversy among members of the bar and indeed the larger public in the past week. Confidence in the judiciary is at an all-time low.  On 22 May 2023, at the opening ceremony of the annual conference of the National Association of Women Judges, Your Lordship urged judges sitting in election petition matters across the country to do substantive justice and eschew technicalities, in order to restore the confidence of the public in the judiciary. It is against this backdrop that I write in relation to the directive of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), prohibiting mobile phones and other electronic d...
Opinion: Nigeria’s Election Highlights Anglo-American Missteps – M. Page
Elections, News, Nigeria, United States of America

Opinion: Nigeria’s Election Highlights Anglo-American Missteps – M. Page

Nigeria’s just concluded presidential elections have been focusing minds in London and Washington. Like tens of millions of Nigerian voters, Anglo-American officials realized what was at stake. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and is on track to be the third most populous country in the world by 2045. The UK and the US have enduring strategic interests in Nigeria, which are threatened by Nigeria’s kleptocratic ruling class’s tolerance of – and complicity in – democratic backsliding, grand corruption and gross human rights violations. The new administration faces a daunting array of challenges, from underdevelopment to insecurity, fiscal pressures and poor governance, which went unaddressed under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari. But over the last several years, the UK and US h...
Inauguration: FG Restricts Movements Around Eagle Square
Elections, News, Nigeria

Inauguration: FG Restricts Movements Around Eagle Square

The Federal Government has directed the restriction of movements around the Eagle Square, the venue of the inauguration parade, from 2 p.m. on Friday till Tuesday. This move is in preparation for the swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, on May 29. A circular issued by Ngozi Onwudiwe, a permanent secretary at the Head of the Civil Service, stated that the Federal Secretariat Complexes Phases I, II, III, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives ahead of the ceremony. The government has been conducting military drills in the past few weeks in preparation for the inauguration ceremony. The Inauguration Parade and Swearing-in of President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the climax of the Programme, will t...
Supreme Court Rules in Favour of Tinubu’s Eligibility
Breaking News, Nigeria

Supreme Court Rules in Favour of Tinubu’s Eligibility

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the eligibility of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, to contest the presidential election that held on February 25. In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, the apex court held that an appeal filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked merit. PDP had sought Tinubu’s disqualification on the premise that the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, allowed himself to be nominated for more than one constituency ahead of the 2023 general elections. The party argued that Shettima’s dual nomination was in gross breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended. Aside from praying the court to nullify Tinubu and Shettima’s candidacy, the PDP equally ap...
Femi Gbajabiamila Clashes with Deputy over Control of the House
Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Femi Gbajabiamila Clashes with Deputy over Control of the House

A crisis appears to be brewing in Nigeria's House of Representatives over who presides over the 10th assembly. Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Ahmed Wase, clashed during the plenary session on Wednesday, leading to speculations that the race for the key position is getting messier by the day. The Guardian reported that Wase is eyeing the seat of the Speaker and is a member of the G-7, a group of aspirants who are not comfortable with the zoning arrangement of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Gbajabiamila, on the other hand, had recommended Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, leading to their endorsement by the APC. The trouble started when Gbajabiamila asked Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulat...
DSS Raises Alarm Over Plans to Disrupt Handover Ceremonies in Nigeria
Elections, News, Nigeria, Security

DSS Raises Alarm Over Plans to Disrupt Handover Ceremonies in Nigeria

The Department of State Services (DSS) has raised an alarm over plans by some subversive elements to disrupt the handover ceremonies in some parts of the country. The DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday, May 25, 2023. The DSS stated that these elements plan to undermine the efforts of the security agencies as well as cause panic among the citizens. The DSS has urged citizens to adhere to the laid down protocols for the events across the country to ensure a peaceful and successful ceremony. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council had announced activities for the Presidential inauguration on May 29, 2023, in Abuja. On the same date, new Governors will also be inaugurated in m...
We’ll Tell Dangote to Provide Forex to Nigeria at Good Rates – Emefiele
Economy, Finance, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Petroleum, Trade

We’ll Tell Dangote to Provide Forex to Nigeria at Good Rates – Emefiele

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has disclosed that the Dangote Refinery will be encouraged to sell foreign exchange earnings to banks at a good rate. Speaking after the 291st Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja, Emefiele stated that his team would engage with Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the promoter of the refinery, to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the venture. He noted that the CBN, the Federal Government, and the country had helped Dangote set up the refinery, adding that with local refining, the country would save about 20 per cent of the total cost of importing petroleum products, thereby reducing prices in the long run. Emefiele expressed optimism that the refinery would ease foreign exchange scarcity in Nigeria, adding that by the time ...
Ibikunle Amosun Denies Allegations Over Dangote Refinery Relocation
Economy, Employment, Labour, News, Nigeria, Petroleum, Trade

Ibikunle Amosun Denies Allegations Over Dangote Refinery Relocation

The former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has refuted claims by his successor, Dapo Abiodun, that he was responsible for the relocation of the $19bn Dangote refinery from Ogun to Lagos State. In a statement issued through his media aide, Bola Adeyemi, Amosun labelled Abiodun's allegations as "lies." He argued that the decision to move the refinery was made by Alhaji Aliko Dangote himself according to his business strategy and risk assessment. Amosun also clarified that the Olokola Free Trade Zone project was a Joint Venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria (which owned the majority 51%), Ondo State Government (14.5%), Ogun State Government (14.5%), strategic core investors (20%), and Alhaji Aliko Dangote who subsequently bought and took over the 20% equity...