Author: Press Room

The Fulani community in Plateau State has dismissed a viral allegation that it was planning to attack certain communities in Barikin Ladi, Mangu, Bokkos, and Bassa council areas of the state. The claim had it that meetings had reportedly held at various locations, including a mosque in Mahanga, to coordinate the said attacks during Ramadan. In a statement yesterday, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Yusuf Ibrahim Babayo, said: “We condemn these spurious and unsubstantiated allegations in the strongest terms. These baseless accusations undermine our integrity, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and stigmatise our community. “We believe…

• Tinubu’ll face opposition from Southeast, South-South, says ex-IPAC chief• Okonkwo: I’ll support fresh Southerner, Northerner willing to use four years• No amount of gang up can stop Tinubu’s re-election, says Oyintiloye• Yakasai rallies Northern support for Tinubu’s administration Despite the presidency’s disclaimer at the weekend that President Bola Tinubu is focused on governance and not interested in 2027 talks, the country appears divided into two halves – those for the president’s re-election and those opposed to his second term in office. The rumblings within the polity gained some traction last week when former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai…

•Fuel marketers decry closure of stations at border towns, citizens demand more Nigerian goods Less than two years after President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, the effect of the decision is now being felt deeply by neighbouring Niger Republic. Also, findings by THE PUNCH on Sunday from fresh data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic surged by 82 per cent in 2024 despite ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. This came as oil dealers raised concern about the closure of filling stations at border towns, stressing that…

Chairman of Epe Local Council in Lagos State, Surah Olayemi Animashahun, has denied allegations against her administration by a group, Epe Young Professionals. The group had accused Animashahun of multiple cases of misconduct, including financial mismanagement, plagiarism and unauthorised sale of government property. Animashahun, while refuting the claims in a statement, yesterday, insisted that the allegations were baseless, politically motivated and orchestrated to distract governance in Epe. Also, the council chairman, denying the plagiarism claims, said that a quotation she used in a report, and being attributed to former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, is a widely recognised…

Damilola Aina   The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, has revealed that three teaching hospitals have received significant solar power interventions to reduce skyrocketing energy costs. He also noted that 20 Federal Universities were beneficiaries of the interventions. Abba revealed this when he welcomed the Committee of Chairmen Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics across Nigeria, led by Senator Barnabas Gemade, during a courtesy visit to discuss the urgent need for solar power intervention in federal polytechnics. A statement by the agency on Sunday said discussions were focused on accelerating the National Public…

State governors have outlined ambitious plans to boost capital expenditure in states to address the infrastructure deficit in their various domains. The governors have earmarked N17.51tn to fund capital projects in their 2025 budgets. They had earmarked N11.34tn to fund similar projects in 2024 but could not secure sufficient funds, as the states recorded a deficit of N3.98tn last year. This indicates that the sub-nationals plan to spend N28.85tn on infrastructure upgrades to boost economic development in two years following the improved revenue allocations from the Federal Government. Recall that statutory allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee to the…

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has described the late Elemure of Emure-Ile, Oba Simon Adedubaje Adeyefa I, as a visionary monarch who was deeply committed to the welfare of his people and the development of his community. Speaking on Sunday at a church service in Emure-Ile, the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, spoke on the monarch’s dedication to creating opportunities for the youth and advancing the town’s development “Kabiyesi was always talking about gainful employment for the youth of the community and development of the town as a whole. He was, indeed, a pro-people monarch,”…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has thwarted multiple attempts to smuggle illicit drugs to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the intercepted substances —including cocaine, tramadol, loud, and molly— were cleverly concealed in items such as prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing. He said, “Desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations to move illicit consignments such as cocaine, tramadol, loud, molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America,…

Two-time UEFA Europa League winner Davide Zappacosta, has praised Atalanta duo, Ademola Lookman and Gian Piero Gasperini, for settling their differences, Soccernet.ng reports. The pair fell out after Lookman missed a crucial spot-kick in Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League knockout tie against Club Brugge. Gasperini did not hold back in his post-match criticism, calling the Nigerian winger “one of the worst penalty takers” he had ever seen. Lookman hit back the next day, accusing Gasperini of being “disrespectful.” Ademola Lookman celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between Juventus FC and Atalanta BC. [Photo Credit/Imago]. Get Our…

Idowu Abdullahi President Bola Tinubu has appointed Prof Olusegun Ojo as the pioneer Chief Medical Director of the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, with effect from March 5, 2025.  The professor of pathology was appointed alongside five other Chief Medical Directors. Up to now, Akure has been the only state capital in the country without a tertiary hospital. Tinubu, in a statement on Friday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the appointments are for four years, effective from the respective dates of assumption of office.  While congratulating the newly appointed and reappointed CMDs, Tinbu urged them…