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Tinubu To Mark 73rd Birthday With Special Prayer At Abuja National Mosque

Our Reporters1 week ago1 week ago03 mins

Ahead of his 73rd birthday on Saturday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will join fellow Muslims at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday for a special prayer session for the nation. He will also use this occasion to thank God for preserving and supporting him in the onerous task of piloting the nation’s affairs. President Tinubu’s birthday coincided with the holy month of Ramadan and comes two months before his administration’s second anniversary. On this significant day, the President will dedicate himself to spiritual reflection and supplication for Nigeria’s continued peace, progress, and prosperity. Choosing a prayer session reflects President Tinubu’s dedication to Nigeria’s spiritual and moral well-being and his commitment to seeking divine guidance, insight, and strength in leadership. He believes collective prayer is a powerful tool for guiding the nation towards progress and harmony. Tinubu invited the public to join the prayer session in spirit by offering prayers at their places of worship or wherever they may be, reinforcing a nationwide commitment to unity and shared destiny. He expressed profound gratitude to Nigerians for their unwavering support and goodwill as his administration works tirelessly to advance economic reforms, strengthen national security, and expand opportunities for all citizens. He stated: “I am deeply thankful to Allah for the gift of life and the privilege to serve this great nation. As I mark another birthday and look forward to our second anniversary, my heart is filled with Renewed Hope for Nigeria. I urge all citizens to pray for divine guidance, unity, and healing for our land. Together, we shall overcome challenges and build a nation where every citizen thrives.” The President reaffirmed his commitment to consolidating democratic gains, fostering economic recovery, and promoting national cohesion. He encouraged citizens to remain steadfast in believing in Nigeria’s destiny as a beacon of hope in Africa.

Dikko, Gusau inspect proposed NFF hotel, training pitch site in Abuja

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau MON, on Wednesday conducted the Chairman of National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko round the proposed site for the NFF Hotel and new training pitch, which is adjacent the NFF Headquarters inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. This ambitious project is designed to establish a state-of-the-art accommodation facility intended specifically for the national football teams. The vision behind the proposed hotel, which has been a project close to the heart of the Ibrahim Gusau administration since it took office 28 months ago, is to free the NFF of the humongous expenses incurred regularly in accommodating the different National Teams. In drastically reducing expenses on accommodation, the football-governing body intends to redirect such funds towards more critical areas, such as nurturing local football talent and bolstering the overall infrastructure of Nigeria football. During the site inspection, Mallam Dikko and NFF President Gusau evaluated multiple aspects of the location under consideration. Key factors included the ease of accessibility for both players and support staff, the level of security provided by the surrounding area, and the proximity of the site to essential training facilities. Their discussions extended beyond site assessment, as they also strategized about the project’s overall timeline, budget considerations, and the potential for partnerships with private investors or corporate entities that might be interested in supporting the laudable initiative. They were in company with top NFF officials including the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, as well as principal aides of the NSC supremo, including Barr. Musa Amadu (former NFF General Secretary) and Mallam Salihu Abubakar. The NFF National Teams Hotel project is in alignment with the overarching mission of the NSC, which is to promote and enhance the development of sports across Nigeria. As the principal authority entrusted with regulating sports in the nation, the NSC is dedicated to endorsing programs and initiatives that bolster Nigeria’s sporting framework.

Sport heavyweights ready to volunteer at 2025 ECOWAS Marathon

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

As preparations intensify for the 2025 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon, key figures in the sports and fitness industry have expressed their eagerness to volunteer and contribute to the event’s success. The marathon, set for March 1, 2025, is part of activities to celebrate ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary. With thousands of runners expected to participate in the 21-kilometre half marathon and the 5-kilometre race, volunteers will be crucial in ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for all. Gabriel Okon, the Race Director emphasized the significance of volunteers in an event that dedicated individuals to handle various logistical and operational aspects. “Marathon is not just about the runners; it’s about the team behind the scenes. Volunteers are the backbone of any successful race, from registration and logistics to hydration stations and medical support. Their role is invaluable in making the event smooth and enjoyable for everyone,” he said. Application for volunteers opened Monday, February 3, 2025, and interested applicants can pick up a form at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria office, Moshood Abiola Stadium, Package A, Abuja. Members of the sports family including athletes, coaches, fitness trainers, and others have pledged to support the event in different capacities, from technical assistance to race coordination and mentorship for young runners. Expressing his delight at the overwhelming response, Okon remarked, “The enthusiasm we are seeing from volunteers is inspiring. From retired directors in the ministry, elite athletes, to community fitness trainers, so many people are eager to be part of this celebration of unity and athleticism. This is more than just a race—it’s a movement that brings people together for a greater cause.” Beyond the competition itself, the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon represents an opportunity to promote health, youth empowerment, and regional unity through sports. With over $71,000 in prize money up for grabs, the event is expected to attract elite runners while also encouraging participation from amateur fitness enthusiasts. Okon stressed that the marathon is not only about athleticism but also about making a lasting impact. “We want this marathon to leave a lasting legacy beyond race day. It’s about inspiring people to embrace fitness, fostering friendships across borders, and promoting a culture of healthy living,” he said. Interested participants can register at www.ecowasabujamarathon.org or visit the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) offices, FCT Sports councils, and local athletics associations across Nigeria.

NDLEA seizes 6 vehicles, 40ft trailer load skunk in Abuja

Our Reporters3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

A 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms has been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja for onward distribution to some Northern states. The intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday 11th January 2025 led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and the six vehicles: Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car as well as the arrest of a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond. The consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan local council area of Edo State. In another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them. No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in NDLEA. The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment. A total of Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred (338,200) bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than One Billion One Hundred and Ninety Million One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Naira (N1,190,168,200.00) in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence. The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state. In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah Lekki where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on 25th October 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo) has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him. Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate. A suspect, Habibu Ya’u, 23, was nabbed by NDLEA officers who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road, Kano on Thursday 9th January where they recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg; and 40,800 pills of opioids including tramadol from him. With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ijaye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School, Lagos state; surrendered Boko Haram members at Hajj camp, Maiduguri, Borno state; Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer at Kamba Central Mosque, Kebbi state, while Kano state Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the District Head of Danbatta, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, among others. While commending the officers and men of DOGI, FCT, PHPC, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Police arrest Catholic Priest, others over Abuja stampede

Our Reporters3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested the parish priest and several officials of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, following a tragic stampede that resulted in the deaths of at least ten individuals, including children. The incident occurred during a grocery distribution event aimed at assisting the needy on December 23, 2024, when a large crowd surged towards the church’s gates, leading to chaos and fatalities. Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the arrests, stating that the action was necessary to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stampede. She emphasized that organizing such a large event without notifying the police is a serious oversight, especially given the tragic loss of life. After initial questioning, the arrested individuals were allowed to return home as the investigation continues. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese criticized the arrests, describing them as counterproductive and lacking compassion. In a Christmas message, he urged the government to support the church and the victims’ families instead of pursuing legal action against church officials. He expressed concern over the government’s response, suggesting that it should focus on improving safety measures for future events rather than threatening prosecution. The stampede in Abuja is part of a larger pattern of similar incidents, with over 60 lives lost across three separate events in Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo states. President Bola Tinubu has also commented on the situation, attributing the tragedies to poor planning by the event organisers. Witnesses reported that the stampede began around 4 a.m. as thousands gathered for the distribution, with many refusing to queue, leading to a dangerous crush at the entrance. The police have since issued new guidelines for organizing large gatherings to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Nigeria runners prioritise ECOWAS Marathon over other races

Our Reporters3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

Nigeria elite marathon runners most of them members of the Jos-based High Altitude Athletics Club have revealed their priority for the year 2025- competing and winning the top ten positions at the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon. Their decision is based on the lucrativeness of the race, especially the 21 km and the organizers’ prompt payment of prize money. Speaking to the media shortly before the Christmas break, Steve Nuhu the director of High Altitude Athletics Club and manager of most of the elite marathoners in Nigeria told correspondents that they have all agreed to prioritize the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon. Said Nuhu, “We all left Pankshin where we normally train a few days ago to spend Christmas and New Year with our families, by the special grace we will regroup the first week of the new year, and our focus for the new year is the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon. “We arrive at this conclusion because we have a very good chance of winning about eight of the top ten positions in the ECOWAS race because it is a half marathon. For example, if our club produce the winners of the men’s and women’s races that is $10,000.00 each which comes to about N40 million in today’s exchange rate we can’t get that kind of money elsewhere. “Even if we place fourth or fifth in the ECOWAS Marathon, it is more rewarding financially than what we will get when we win a full marathon elsewhere, we are grateful to ECOWAS because their race is empowering us and lifting us out of poverty.’’ Nuhu also praised the organisers for the prompt payment of prize money and the general organisation of the race, “We also thank the management of ECOWAS Marathon for paying our prize money immediately after the race, we have never experienced a delay in the payment of prize money, it is always a great experience and exciting moment for our runners and we look forward to the 2025 edition with innate joy.” The 2025 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon is slated for March 1, 2025. There are two races, the 21 km and the 5 km. The 21 km will start and finish at the ECOWAS Commission, Asokoro and the 5 km race will start at the Eagles Square and also finish at the ECOWAS Commission.

EFCC makes single largest asset recovery till date

Our Reporters4 months ago4 months ago05 mins

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, December 2, 2024 gave a ruling on a final forfeiture of an estate in Abuja measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments. This is the single largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, since its inception in 2003. The Estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. The forfeiture of the property to the federal government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities. In this instance, the Commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006 and Section 44 (2) B of the Constitution of the 199 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to push its case. Ruling on the Commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the property, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the respondent have not shown cause as to why he should not lose the property, “which has been reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, the property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government.” The road to the final forfeiture of the property was paved by an interim forfeiture order, secured before the same Judge on November 1, 2024. The government official which fraudulently built the estate is being investigated by the EFCC. The forfeiture of the asset is an important modality of depriving the suspect of the proceeds of the crime. The justification for the forfeiture is derived from Part 2, Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act, which stipulates that the EFCC “has power to cause investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organization has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes and cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.” The Commission’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has repeatedly described asset recovery as pivotal in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes and a major disincentive against the corrupt and the fraudulent. Addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption recently, he said, “If you understand the intricacies involved in financial crimes investigation and prosecution you will discover that to recover one billion naira is war. So, I told my people that the moment we start investigation we must also start asset tracing because asset recovery is pivotal in the anti-corruption fight; and one of the potent instruments that you can deploy as an anti-corruption agency for an effective fight is asset tracing and recovery. If you allow the corrupt or those that you are investigating to have access to the proceeds of their crime, they will fight you with it. So one of the ways to weaken them is to deprive them of the proceeds of their crime. So, our modus operandi has changed simultaneously. The moment we begin investigation, we begin asset tracing. That was what helped us to make our recoveries.”

EFCC arrests suspected internet fraudster in Abuja

Our Reporters4 months ago4 months ago01 mins

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, arrested one suspected internet fraudster. The suspect was arrested at No.25 Aliyu Modibbo Street, Guzape Hills, Abuja following credible intelligence on his alleged involvement in internet fraud. Items recovered from him include a Range Rover Velar 2019 model, $4100 (Four Thousand One Hundred United States Dollars), N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) cash, One AP silver wrist watch, two mobile phones and one laptop. He will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.