Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Nigerian Senate will today, Saturday, December 30, pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Naija News reports that the Red Chamber will commence plenary by 1 pm, prompt to consider and pass the budget. Recall that the Senate, on Wednesday, 21st December 2023, adjourned plenary till Friday, 29th December, to consider and pass the 2024 budget. However, in a statement by the Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, a few days later, the date was shifted to Saturday 30th, December 2023, at 10 am. In a new statement to journalists on…

Despite the surge in the cost of rice and the recent decision to lift the ban on foreign exchange for its imports, the Nigeria Customs Service has affirmed that rice remains a restricted commodity. Rice, a staple in the Nigerian diet, has experienced a notable increase in price despite local production efforts. Currently, a 50kg bag of rice is selling for between N55,000 and N60,000, depending on the location of purchase. This marks a significant rise from approximately N30,000 for the same bag a year ago, despite domestic rice production and the recent permission for forex use in rice imports. On October…

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has officially approved the2024 appropriation bill worth N703.02 billion. On Friday, December 29, the governor expressed his belief that the budget would contribute significantly to the state’s development and establish it as Nigeria’s infrastructure hub. The signing took place in the governor’s office in Abeokuta, where he received the bill from the Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo. The budget, titled “Budget of Sustained Growth and Development,” was initially presented to the House on November 30 by Governor Abiodun himself. Speaking yesterday, Governor Abiodun emphasized that the state has experienced remarkable progress…

Dangote refinery has received its next one-million-barrel crude oil cargo from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO). The oil firm received the shipment on Wednesday in a boost towards achieving Nigeria’s energy refining capacity and security. It is understood that the latest shipment brings the total to three million barrels at the facility’s Single-Point Mooring and that the fourth shipment of crude is on the way. The company, gearing up to commence operations at 350,000 bpd, is scheduled to start production of diesel and aviation fuel by Mid- January 2024 in which Premium Motor Spirit production is to follow. Dangote…

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is in talks to join Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC on a free transfer, ending 11 years in north London. Lloris came close to leaving Spurs in the summer and was in talks with Lazio, but a deal was not completed. The 37-year-old has been behind Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster and has not played since a 6-1 loss to Newcastle in April. He has made 447 appearances for Spurs since signing from Lyon in 2012. The former France international, who is about to enter the final six months of his contract, expressed a…

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has paid a glowing tribute to his departed longtime friend and brother, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, of Ondo State, who died on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. In an emotional tribute, the former VP expressed his sadness and deep pain over the loss of the Governor, describing him as his brother and friend of over 40 years. In a post shared across his social media handles, Prof. Osinbajo wrote: “Dolly and I express our sincere condolence to Her Excellency Betty Akeredolu, children, family, friends, associates of HE Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu @rotimiaketi and the government and people…

The Edo State Government has reacted to a slash in the budgetary allocation to the Deputy Governor’s office in the 2024 budget. In the 2024 budget signed into law by Governor Godwin Obaseki, N345 million was allocated to the Office of the Deputy Governor. According to the budget, N19 billion was allocated to the Office of the State Governor while the Office of the Secretary to the State Government was allocated N8 billion and the Office of the Head of Service got N968m. A source within the House of Assembly told Daily Trust that the reduction in the allocation to Shaibu’s office…

Abia state 2024 Appropriations Bill, worth N567.2 billion, recently passed by the State House of Assembly has been signed into law by the state governor, Alex Otti. Otti stated that Abia will transition from its current state of underdevelopment to development as he signed the 2024 budget into law on Thursday. He pointed out that the allocation of 84% of the budget for capital expenditures and 16% for ongoing expenses was not an error, but rather a calculated strategy to quicken the speed of Abia’s economic expansion. The Governor insisted that all borrowed funds for the budget would go toward capital…

The Federal Government has announced the planned closure of the Iyana Oworonshoki-Adeniji Adele section of the Third Mainland Bridge in 2024. The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, announced in a Thursday statement that the planned closure will commence from 11: 00 am on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Kesha said the closure would be done on the Lagos Island-bound carriageway of the bridge. She appealed to motorists to obey traffic rules and use alternative routes to prevent hardship as comprehensive repairs continue on the highway. “The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works wishes to inform…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared three days of state mourning for the deceased Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Makinde made the declaration on Thursday. Our correspondent recalls that Akeredolu’s death was announced on Wednesday. Makinde also ordered that all flags at public offices in the state be flown at half mast for three days. The governor made this declaration in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju. The statement read, “Oyo State governor and vice chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared three…

A soldier has been arrested by the Nigerian Army’s 7 Division in Maiduguri, for the suspected murder of a truck driver at a checkpoint on the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru Road. The truck driver and the soldier at the checkpoint misunderstood each another, leading to the altercation that led to the driver’s death. However, in response to the tragic killing, commercial drivers have reportedly decided to boycott the heavily travelled border road in protest, leaving many travellers stranded. In a statement released on Thursday, the Public Relations Officer for 7 Division, Lt. Col. A.Y. Jingina, confirmed the arrest and stated that the Army had opened…

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa on Thursday in Dutse signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill of ₦298.140 billion into law. The development came barely one week after the state House of Assembly passed the bill. The governor lauded the synergy between the executive and the legislature, adding that the gesture resulted in the smooth passage of the bill. He said the estimate was being prepared to serve the people of the state, adding that he assented to the bill sequel to legislative approval. “We are signing our first appropriation bill into law after scrutiny by Jigawa State House of Assembly. “And,…