News Update

 A fresh inflow of foreign exchange totaling £6.9m ($8.9m) or N8.2 billion (when converted to naira), will soon hit the coffers of the Nigerian government. This is because a court in the United Kingdom has ruled that the money, suspected to be stolen funds earmarked for arms purchase, be returned to Nigeria.

The cause of the explosion which rocked Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, late Tuesday, is yet to be known, according to the Police. The incident that reportedly led to the death of several persons has sparked tension in the ancient city.

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 The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has summoned a crucial meeting with the Force Management Team and Tactical Squads to address the escalating concerns regarding insecurity across the country. According to a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the IGP while expressing deep concern over the situation, emphasized the need for decisive action.

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 President Bola Tinubu says ex-President Muhammadu Buhari can no longer relocate to Niger Republic due to border closure. Tinubu said this on Tuesday in Abuja, during the unveiling of two books titled ‘Working with Buhari (2015 – 2023)’ and ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy – 2015 – 2023 (Vols 1-5)’.

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Ongoing investigation of alleged fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was on Tuesday extended to the Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein. She was quizzed by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over suspicious movement of cash from the ministry to bank accounts linked to private individuals.

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. The naira on Tuesday fell to N1,295 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,265 per dollar on Monday. However, the naira depreciated to N878.57 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).

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 A bloody clash over a land dispute between the Gbagyi and the Bassa ethnic groups in the Kudu village of Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has claimed seven lives, with many others injured. It was gathered that the crisis erupted when the Bassa ethnic group allegedly invaded a community where the Gbagyi people had settled for their farming activities.

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 The National Assembly raised budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Works from N657.3bn in the proposed budget to N1.03tn. This represents N373bn or 56.7 per cent increase from the initial figure in the appropriation bill. It also represents a 65.4 per cent increase from the amount approved in the 2023 budget.

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. The abductors of the caretaker chairman of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, Rev. Gideon Haanongon, have opened contact with his relatives and demanded the sum of N50m as ransom. The chairman was in the early hours of Saturday abducted alongside his personal assistant, police orderly and driver.

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 The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, and a former National Chairman of the party, Senator Adams Oshiomole, said they are determined to reclaim Edo State. Ganduje who stated this during a meeting with Edo State stakeholders, insisted that the state is an APC state.

from dailypost