News
Buhari, Jonathan Present As Tinubu Chairs Council Of State Meeting
President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the meeting of the National Council of State.
The meeting which is being held at the Council Chamber of the State House Abuja has in attendance former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
Former Heads of State, Generals Gowon Yakubu, and Abdulsalami Abubakar are joining virtually.
Also present for the meeting are the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Governors Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Usman Ododo of Kogi State, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Abba Yusuf of Kano State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state, Kefas Agbu of Taraba State, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara State and Umar Namadi of Jigawa State are among the governors present as of the time the meeting started.
Governors Alex Otti of Abia State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa states joined virtually, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is attending physically.Former chief justices Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammed are also in attendance.Others present are the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy Wale Edun and Minister of Works, David Umahi, among others.
This is the first National Council of State meeting since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
The meeting is coming days after the #EndBadGovernance protest which saw many Nigerians taking to the streets to demand good governance in the face of economic hardship occasioned by the removal of subsidies and high cost of living.
The National Council of State is an important organ of the government that advises the executive arm of government on policymaking.
• King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall
News
Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Ngige gets bail, trials continue on January 28
The EFCC alleges that Ngige used his ministerial position between 2015 and 2023 to award contracts unfairly, divert funds, and enrich himself and associates.
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been granted bail by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gwarimpa.
He faces eight counts of charges bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud, and acceptance of kickbacks from contractors linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
In Thursday’s ruling, Justice Maryam Hassan adopted the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
The court ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a serving Federal Government director.
The surety is required to deposit travel documents with the court registrar, as Ngige claims his passport was lost.
The surety must also present landed property with a valid certificate of occupancy within the Federal Capital Territory.
The EFCC alleges that Ngige used his ministerial position between 2015 and 2023 to award contracts unfairly, divert funds, and enrich himself and associates.
The trial is scheduled to commence on January 28, 2026.
News
BREAKING: Senate Confirms Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Others as Ambassadors
#The Nigerian Senate has confirmed a list of high-profile non-career ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, including former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, social media influencer and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and ex-Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK).
The confirmations followed screenings by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which cleared the nominees amid some procedural debates but ultimately recommended their approval.
Other prominent figures confirmed include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and several former senators and political allies.
The approvals form part of a broader diplomatic restructuring by the Tinubu administration, with the nominees expected to be deployed to key missions abroad to strengthen Nigeria’s international relations.
Sources indicate that the list, which includes a mix of career and non-career diplomats totaling around 68, addresses long-standing vacancies in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
The nominations had sparked public debate earlier, with critics questioning the inclusion of politically controversial figures, while supporters highlighted their experience in public service and loyalty to national interests.
The confirmed ambassadors-designate will receive their specific postings after formal letters of credence from the president.
This development marks a significant step in revitalizing Nigeria’s diplomatic presence globally.
Dangote: A Dogged and Fierce Fighter for Local Industries Survival
BREAKING: KWAM1 goes to court to challenge Awujale selection process
Ronaldo featuring in Hollywood’s Fast & Furious film
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
News3 days agoNews Commentary: Senator Godswill Akpabio ” Kpai in London”, Another Fake News
-
News2 days agoBREAKING: NMDPRA boss, Farouk Ahmed resigns amid corruption allegations
-
News2 days agoTranscorp Hotels Plc Appoints Dr. Awele Elumelu as New Board Chair
-
Sports3 days ago2025 AFCON Group B Squads
-
News2 days agoAircraft crashes in Owerri with four persons onboard
-
News3 days agoSenate Directs NSA, DSS to Investigate False Death Rumours Targeting Akpabio and Gowon
-
International1 day agoNigeria’s Foreign Minister Tuggar Delivers President Tinubu’s Message of Solidarity to Burkina Faso’s Traoré Amid Diplomatic Resolution
-
Business2 days agoAdesanya joins FrieslandCampina from Guinness Nigeria