Author: Aminu Imam

$3bn Refinery Scandal: EFCC arrests sacked MDs, traces ₦80bn to one account 

Aminu Imam
EFCC arrests sacked MDs

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has arrested former managing directors and top officials of Nigeria’s three state-owned refineries over an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud involving the rehabilitation of the plants. Those detained include former heads of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company. The EFCC is probing the alleged mismanagement of $2.95 billion earmarked for the revamp of the facilities. A breakdown of the funds under investigation shows $1.56 billion allocated to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740 million to Kaduna…

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“Anti-microbial resistance deadlier than HIV, TB, malaria’ – NCDC

Aminu Imam
NCDC warns

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC), has raised the alarm over the growing threat of Anti-microbial Resistance. The NCDC described AMR as a ‘silent killer’ deadlier than malaria, Tuberculosis, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) combined. The NCDC Director General, Dr Jide Idris, said this in an interview with the yesterday in Abuja, highlighting the urgent need to tackle the global health threat, which many Nigerians remained unaware of. Idris said, “AMR is a silent killer. It kills more than the combination of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS together.…

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DSO: ‘Nigeria must ditch the past, embrace a digital future’ – Stakeholders tell FG

Aminu Imam
Stakeholders on DSO

Stakeholders in the  broadcast industry have warned the current administration about the mistakes of the past regime that militated against Nigeria’s smooth transition to  digital broadcasting. The Digital Switch-Over (DSO) is key to this transformation, promising economic growth, innovation, and better access to information. Yet, nearly two decades after its launch, the DSO remains stalled due to bureaucracy, outdated policies, and lack of political will.   The stakeholders stated that to unlock its potential, the Nigeria must abandon outdated analogue systems and fully adopt digital technology.  According to the stakeholders, Nigeria…

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TRIBUTE: “Edwin Clark was spokesperson for marginalised Nigerians”- Ramalan, Chairman Independent Broadcasters, IBAN 

Aminu Imam
Ramalan on Edwin Clark

The Chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria, (IBAN), Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, has described the Late elder statesman and former pan-Niger-Delta Forum leader, Chief Edwin Clark as a foremost Statesman and Niger-Delta leader, adding that he was a staunch advocate of the Niger-Delta people, and a vocal proponent of national unity, justice and equity.  Recall that Clark passed away on Feb. 17, aged 97. In a heartfelt tribute yesterday, Dr. Ramalan praised Pa Clark’s life of national service, hailing him as an iconic nationalist and a resolute…

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“None of 31 States creation proposals met requirements” – Deputy H’Reps Speaker

Aminu Imam
Nigeria map and flag Detailed Vector Illustration

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has revealed that none of the 31 proposals for new states met the Constitutional requirements.  As a result, the submission deadline has been extended to March 5, 2025, for applicants to fulfill the necessary provisions. Speaking at a two-day retreat in Akwa Ibom, Kalu disclosed that over 200 bills seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution have been received, covering areas such as federal structure, local government autonomy, revenue allocation, security reforms, and electoral…

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‘NNPCL fails to remit ₦13.7tr to Federation Account’

Aminu Imam
NNPCL fails to remit

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has failed to remit ₦13.763 trillion in revenue to the Federation Account, according to a document obtained from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, (FAAC), after its January 2025 meeting. The document reveals that between 2012 and 2024, NNPCL was expected to remit ₦27.28 trillion from domestic crude sales but deposited only ₦13.524 trillion, leaving a shortfall of ₦13.763 trillion. This comes amid recent allegations by the Auditor-General of the Federation, (AGF), who accused NNPCL of diverting ₦2.68 trillion and $9.77 trillion in the…

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EFCC returns $132, 362, ₦78m to foreign fraud victims 

Aminu Imam
Taron manema labarai

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), yesterday returned a total sum of $132,362.43 and ₦78,566,324.81 to victims of fraud from the United States, Spain, and Switzerland. Other assets, including vehicles and real estate documents, were also handed over to representatives of these countries in Nigeria for restitution to those affected by fraudulent activities. Speaking at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede urged countries withholding assets and funds recovered from financial and economic criminals to release them for victim restitution. He said, “We are using this…

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2027: CSOs advocate for single-day general elections in Nigeria

Aminu Imam
CSOs advocate

As the 2027 general elections approach, civil society organisations (CSOs) have called for all elections to be conducted on a single day to reduce costs and inefficiencies. This proposal was discussed yestetday in Abuja  during a policy dialogue organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development. Speaking at the event, a political scientist at Nile University, Abuja,  Dr. Iroro Izu, argued that the current staggered election system is unsustainable given the high costs incurred by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). He pointed out that countries such as…

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FG approves relocation of 29 Custodial Centres

Aminu Imam
Interior Minister

The Federal Government has authorised the relocation of 29 out of Nigeria’s 256 Custodial Centres due to increasing urbanisation. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this yesterday, during the commissioning of 39 newly-acquired vehicles and five bullet-resistant guard-booths for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in Abuja. Tunji-Ojo noted that many existing correctional facilities, such as those in Suleja and Ikoyi, Lagos, which were dated back to the 19th and 20th centuries, are no longer suitable for modern correctional practices. “Suleja Correctional Centre was established in 1914, Ikoyi in 1956,…

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Osun Crisis: ‘Suspend LG polls’, Police tell Gov. Adeleke

Aminu Imam
Osun Police 2 Adeleke

Few hours before the local government elections in Osun State slated for today, the Nigeria Police Force has urged the Government to suspend the planned elections. The Police stated that joint intelligence assessments revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, were mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace, and undermine the democratic process. Recall that there has been tension in Osun fuelled by on-going disputes over local government administration, with the PDP and APC locked in a heated battle over the legitimacy of past and present…

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