News

By Anwar Usman

The military junta in mali has appointed a military officer Major General Abdoulaye Maiga on Thursday as the new prime minister, a day after sacking civilian premier Choguel Kokalla Maiga following his criticism of the military leadership.

Abdoulaye Maiga previously served as spokesperson yo the government.

The West African nation, plagued by jihadist and separatist violence, has been under military rule since successive coups in 2020 and 2021.

“Major General Abdoulaye Maiga is appointed prime minister,” read a decree issued by junta leader General Assimi Goïta and announced by the presidency’s secretary-general on the state television station ORTM.

Although Abdoulaye Maiga was not part of the initial group of colonels who overthrew the civilian president in August 2020, he quickly related himself with them and has since been promoted to general.

His appointment to replace the civilian prime minister appears to strengthen the military’s grip on power.On Saturday, Choguel Kokalla Maiga publicly criticised the lack of transparency regarding the transition to civilian rule.

In June 2022, the junta pledged to hold elections and transfer power to a civilian government by the end of March 2024.

However, elections have since been postponed indefinitely.

By Anwar Usman

Prof. Bernard Odoh, the sacked Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, on Thursday, expressed concern over the method through which he was removed as the university’s VC, stating that it didn’t follow the due process.

Odoh’s concerns follow his sack and that of the university’s governing council over his purported “illegal” appointment.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, he stated that the Federal Government needed to wade in to address brewing tensions.

“The removal of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.

“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the Governing Council of the 33-year-old institution.

“The government lamented over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process,” read the statement.

However, the removed VC, in an interview on Arise TV, maintained that he won’t accept his removal through a press release but rather after the recommendations of an investigating council.

He further stated that, “I’m not disobeying the President, but it is the governing council that will recommend my removal after investigating me,” adding that “Mr President could have been wrongly advised.”

“You can’t sack somebody you didn’t employ. The Visitor (Tinubu) appointed the council and the council followed due process to engage and give me a letter. He can’t remove me through a press release.

“There was no panel of inquiry. I was not appointed through a press release but rather by a constituted authority which followed a straightforward procedure,” he added.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had accused the Governing Council of the institution of failing to follow due process in Odoh’s appointment and had demanded that the ministry dissolve the council over acts of illegality.

By Abdullahi Muhammad

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist and leader of a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to prison in Finland following his arrest for inciting violence and promoting terrorism. 

The Päijät-Häme District Court found Ekpa guilty of using his social media platforms to encourage terrorist activities, particularly in southeastern Nigeria, a region plagued by unrest.

Finnish authorities stated that Ekpa’s online rhetoric, including support for sit-at-home orders and calls for election boycotts in Nigeria, fueled violence that has disrupted communities in the region. 

Ekpa, who claims leadership of IPOB in exile, has been a controversial figure, previously linked to threats that led to his initial arrest in February 2023. Finnish police also detained four others for alleged involvement in financing terrorist activities.

Nigerian officials have long criticised Ekpa’s activities, accusing him of exacerbating instability. The Nigerian government has been in discussions with Finnish authorities regarding Ekpa’s influence, though legal hurdles and human rights concerns have complicated potential extradition efforts.

The case highlights increasing international cooperation to combat cross-border terrorism and raises questions about balancing free speech with accountability for incitement to violence.

By Anwar Usman 

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s loan request of $2.2 billion to partially finance the ₦9.7 trillion budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year. 

The approval followed the presentation of a report by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Aliyu Wamakko, during plenary session. 

While leading the session, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau commended the committee for its swift action and thorough examination of the loan request. 

In a letter presented during the Senate and House of Representatives plenaries on Tuesday, Tinubu explained that the loan was integral to his administration’s fiscal strategy for the coming year. 

“The Presidential request for $2.2 billion, equivalent to ₦1.77 trillion, is already stated in the external borrowing plan for the 2024 fiscal year,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated while reading the letter. 

He further instructed the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts to expedite its review of the request and present a report within 24 hours. 

“The Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans should, therefore, give the request expeditious consideration and report back within 24 hours,” Akpabio said.

Although the deadline was passed on Wednesday, the committee submitted its findings during Thursday’s plenary, leading to the loan’s approval. 

Details later…

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command has collected N2.014 trillion in revenue as of November 19, 2024.

This feat was announced by Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, during a routine parade at the command headquarters in Apapa. 

Comptroller Olomu praised officers for their dedication. He stated, “To meet this revenue target, despite economic challenges, reflects the sacrifice and commitment of our officers, men, and stakeholders.”

He stated the command’s aim to reach N2.2 trillion by year-end, citing the Comptroller-General of Customs’ (CGC) potential 10% target increase. 

The command’s revenue contribution represents 40% of the NCS’s total collection of N5.07 trillion. Olomu attributed the success to the CGC’s leadership in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and enforcement. 

Comptroller Olomu urged officers to maintain positive revenue and enforcement records, ensuring seizures are accompanied by arrests for effective anti-smuggling efforts.

The command will host an end-of-year gathering and award night to honour contributors to its 2024 success.

By Uzair Adam

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Kashere in Gombe State, Prof. Umaru Pate, has lost his mother, Hajia Zainab Pate.

According to family sources, Hajia Zainab, aged 80, passed away in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on Wednesday following a brief illness.

The Daily Reality gathered that she is survived by three children: Prof. Umar Pate, Amina, and Hamza.

The funeral prayer was said to have taken place this evening in Yola.

By Anwar Usman

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday, said that the country must tackle the pressing issue of the National Library, which has been abandoned for over 18 years, by making sure it’s been completed.

Obasanjo, who delivered a goodwill message at the 60th anniversary of the National Library of Nigeria in Abuja, described the library as not only a symbol but also a critical necessity.

The Daily reality reports that the contract for the library, which stands incomplete on Plot 35, Cadastral Business District in the Federal Capital Territory, was awarded to Reynolds Construction Company in 2006 during Obasanjo’s administration.

The contract was worth N8.9 billion, with a stipulated completion period of four years.

However, the former president stated, “As we celebrate this remarkable milestone and embrace new directions, we must also address a pressing challenge: the completion of the National Library of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja.

“The vision for a purpose-built, state-of-the-art national library is not merely a symbolic aspiration; it is a critical necessity for our country. It represents a physical and functional commitment to our collective belief in the transformative power of knowledge in our lives and societies.

“I, therefore, call on all stakeholders – from the government to the private sector and international partners – to prioritise the completion of this vital infrastructure. A fully operational headquarters will serve as a beacon for literacy and learning, a hub for cultural preservation, and a global symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to education and innovation.”

On his part, the national librarian, Professor Veronica Anunobi, while highlighting the achievements of the library, said, “Since 1974, we have issued 1,000,574 International Standard Book Numbers, as well as 27,755 International Serials Numbers since its inception in 1976.

“A greater push was made this year to fulfil our responsibility in the issuance of International Standard Music Numbers, and we were able to issue numbers for published music scores.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Federal Government has earmarked N112 billion for the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools, which will aim to secure learning environments nationwide over the next three years.

Minister for Women Affairs Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim made this announcement to commemorate Universal Children’s Day, themed “Advancing Children’s Rights for a Sustainable Future.” 

“Through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools, over N112 billion has been allocated to safeguard learning environments over the next three years, ensuring that schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for all children,” she stated.

This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and providing a secure environment for education. 

The government has made significant progress in advancing children’s rights through various initiatives.

All 36 states have adopted the Child Rights Act, marking a significant step in protecting children’s rights under the Nigerian Constitution.

Additionally, the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act has strengthened policies to shield children from abuse, violence, and exploitation.

By Abdullahi Muhammad

Renowned US-based Islamic scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi paid a visit to Dr. Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, at his royal palace. Accompanying Dr. Qadhi was the esteemed Shaykh Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar.

During the visit, Dr Qadhi, who has delivered a sermon and lectures across Nigeria in the last few days, presented one of his scholarly works to the Emir as a gesture of intellectual camaraderie. 

Dr Qadhi acknowledges that Emir Sanusi II was widely respected as both a traditional leader and an academic. Sanusi holds multiple degrees in economics and Islamic law, reflecting his dedication to scholarship and his role as a revered political figure.

The meeting highlighted the shared commitment of all parties to fostering intellectual and spiritual growth within the Muslim community. 

Dr. Qadhi expressed his admiration for the Emir’s leadership and intellectual pursuits, while the Emir extended his gratitude for the thoughtful visit and gift.

By Anwar Usman 

The Federal Government has lifted the ban that restricted the posting of members of the National Youth Service Corps to the public institutions, allowing for corps members to now be posted to private sector organisations, including banks and oil and gas companies. 

According to a memo released by the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on November 18, 2024, the new policy directive will take effect with the commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise. 

The previous policy that was implemented during the former Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Bolaji Abdullahi, aimed at discouraging private companies from exploiting cheap labour while promoting public sector capacity building and restricted corps members to only four sectors of the economy, including education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure. 

The minister added that the new policy follows President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to tackle rising youth unemployment by ensuring that government agencies align with the vision of his administration, adding that the directive will initially take effect in Lagos and Abuja. 

“The new policy would also allow the corp members to gain valuable experience in their chosen fields of study, noting that the previous policy discouraged Nigerian youths from gaining experiences that would prepare them for the labour market. 

The memo further read in parts, “There is a serious need to review this policy to expand the opportunity and access for corps members to serve in places that are relevant to their areas of study. Without prejudice to the need to constantly review per prevailing realities, I now direct as follows: Lifting of all restrictions on postings.”