A coalition of civil society groups, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, protested at the Force Headquarters in Abuja demanding the release of journalist Daniel Ojukwu, detained since May 1, 2024. They cited concerns over shrinking press freedom and civic space in Nigeria. The group vowed to occupy the building until Ojukwu is released, highlighting the…
Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter, and two others were granted N100 million bail each by a Federal High Court in Abuja. They face charges of alleged N2.7 billion fraud filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Sirika pleaded ‘not guilty’ to six counts of fraud. Alongside him were his daughter…
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) strongly opposes the recent decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to impose a cybersecurity levy on bank customers. According to NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, this policy is seen as arbitrary, illegal, and disconnected from the realities faced by Nigerians. NEF expressed concern over the…
Senator Monday Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly and was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, faces scrutiny from a coalition of civil society groups. The Network of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission…
Human rights activist Francis Nwapa has accused the Lagos State government of failing to deliver justice for 22-year-old fashion designer Bamise Ayanwola, who was allegedly raped and murdered by a driver of the Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in February 2022. Nwapa, in a recent post on his social media account, urged Governor Babajide…
Microsoft is reportedly considering shutting down its African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos, according to industry insiders who spoke to The Guardian newspaper. While the exact reasons behind this decision remain unclear, sources speculate that Nigeria’s challenging economic conditions may have influenced it. The closure is said to affect only the West Africa operations in…
In 2022, Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education (COE) Kangere in Bauchi state attracted over 1000 hopeful applicants eager to enroll in its degree programs affiliated with Bayero University Kano (BUK). These applicants, fueled by aspirations for higher education, invested both financially and emotionally, paying application fees and JAMB fees totaling thousands of Naira. However,…
A coalition of civil society groups has launched a global campaign protesting against the practice of awarding pipeline protection contracts to ex-militants in Nigeria. They argue that engaging former militants in oil-related activities contributes to the country’s ongoing fuel crisis. The coalition, known as the Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection (CSC-MAP), contends that such…
Gunmen attacked travellers on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway, resulting in the death of one person and the abduction of seven others. According to a victim’s audio recording, the armed assailants, numbering up to seven, intercepted vehicles between the Ilisan, Ceplast industry, and Iperu junction axis of the expressway on Friday. One victim, a driver en route…
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was slated to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa, faced an unexpected change of plans due to technical issues with his aircraft. Originally scheduled to join political and business leaders from Africa, the United States, and beyond for high-level…