Author: Aminu Imam

Lavish retirement perks for Service Chiefs spark criticism amid economic hardship

Aminu Imam
Asiwaju & Service Chiefs

President Bola Tinubu has approved an extensive retirement package for Service Chiefs and top military officers, including $20,000 for annual foreign medical treatment, bulletproof SUVs, domestic aides, and other benefits. The new provisions, outlined in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service, (HTCOS), which was signed in December 2024, has however drawn sharp criticism from medical and civil society groups. The package includes a bulletproof SUV, replaced every four years, a backup vehicle, personal aides, and free medical care abroad. Lieutenant-Generals will receive $20,000 for medical treatment, two Toyota Hilux…

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NNPCL debt burden to persist until 2029, amid rising crude demand

Aminu Imam
NNPC debt burden

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), is projected to service crude-for-loan obligations until 2029, driven by increasing demand from domestic refineries. The debt, tied to several crude-for-loan deals amounting to $8.86 billion, involves pledging 272,500 barrels of crude oil daily to repay loans. This equates to about 8.17 million barrels per month, as revealed by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and NNPCL’s financial reports. Rising local demand is fueled by the operational Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, along with the $20 billion Ɗangote Refinery. These facilities will…

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FG moves to float National Air carrier after failed attempts 

Aminu Imam
FG on Air Nigeria

After failed attempts to float national carriers in the past, President Bola Tinubu has mandated the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development,  to revive the ‘Nigeria Air’ project. Tinubu also directed the civil servants to use his positions to sanitise Nigerian airports. Kana disclosed this during a meeting with Heads of agencies of the Aviation Ministry and members of staff in Abuja. Kana, who disclosed this during a meeting with Heads of agencies of the Aviation Ministry and members of staff in Abuja,…

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Ohanaeze Presidency: “Stay off; it’s Rivers turn” – IPOB warns Okiro

Aminu Imam
IPOB warns Okiro

The proscribed group,  Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), has cautioned former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, to stay-off the election for the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Reacting to the endorsement of Okiro by a faceless group: ‘Ogbako Egbema’, IPOB warned against disrupting the zonal arrangement in electing Ohanaeze’s President-General. IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said some influential people in Imo State are behind the move to rubbish Okiro’s integrity and that of Ohanaeze. In an issued statement he signed, Powerful noted that it is the turn of Rivers State to…

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El-Rufa’i spotted at SDP HQ with politicians days after denying defection rumours

Aminu Imam
El Rufa'i at SDP

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmed el-Rufa’i has sparked speculation about his political future with a visit to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) national headquarters yesterday. This move came just two days after he denied rumours of defecting from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A post shared on Facebook by Liberty TV/Radio Chairman Kaduna and former Chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Board,  Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, revealed el-Rufa’i meeting with other prominent politicians at the…

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Controversy over Local Govt’s fiscal autonomy lingers

Aminu Imam
Tinubu, AGF, Governors

…As Tinubu, AGF, Governors clash over implementation The debate over the fiscal autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments continues, despite last year’s Supreme Court ruling affirming their independence.  Recent remarks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a New Year homage by State governors and Vice-President Kashim Shettima have fueled the controversy, raising questions about the autonomy’s implementation. Recall that President Tinubu, while emphasising grassroots development, has reiterated that there was no disagreement with the State governors over autonomy. However, he urged them to ensure local governments fulfill their mandate, calling…

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Bomb explosion rocks Abuja school; student feared dead

Aminu Imam
Abuja school bomb explosion

A bomb explosion has reportedly exploded in Kuchibiyu community of Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where an Islamiyyah school is located as leaving a student dead, with many critically injured. According to reports, the tragic incident occurred around noon yesterday, sending shockwaves through the quiet community, located approximately 42 kilometers from the federal capital’s city centre. It was gathered that emergency response teams, including the Police’ Bomb Disposal squad, promptly arrived at the scene, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. While…

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Shehu Sani funds deposed Etsu Nupe’s palace renovation in Lokoja

Aminu Imam
Shehu Sani funds renovation

Former Kaduna-Central Senator and civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, has released funds for the renovation of the palace of the Late deposed Etsu Nupe Bida, Ibrahim Abubakar, who passed away in 1911 in Lokoja. Sani revealed this during an interview in Lokoja yesterday, reaffirming his commitment to preserving historical sites tied to Nigeria’s freedom fighters. The human rights activist also pledged additional funding to rehabilitate and revive the Islamiyah School, which hosts the tombs of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aliyu Abdullahi (Maisango), and Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Aliyu, exiled…

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Rivers: Police confirm 18 injured in gas explosion

Aminu Imam
explosion

Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that 18 people sustained severe injuries in a gas explosion that occurred in the Oroazi community of Port Harcourt. According to reports, he incident happened on Sunday evening, at a gas refilling shop, causing substantial damage to nearby buildings. This latest explosion is part of a series of gas and Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) incidents recorded in the State since 2024. The Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, verified the incident during an interview with newsmen yesterday. According to her, the explosion was caused by…

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Niger govt. warns farmers of bomb threats

Aminu Imam
Niger govt. warns farmers

Niger State government issued a warning yesterday to residents of certain communities in the state, urging them to avoid going to their farms, in order to prevent falling victim to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by bandits. Recall that in August, bandits killed 13 farmers in the Alawa community, of the Shiroro local government area of the State. The bandits were said to have tracked the farmers to their farms, killing them because they had provided intelligence on bandits’ movements to security agencies. The State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Bello…

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