News
TVC News Appoints Babajide Kolade-Otitoju as News Director
Television Continental Communications (TVC) has announced the appointment of seasoned journalist Babajide Kolade-Otitoju as its new Director of News.
The appointment was revealed by the organisation’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Ajayi, during a town hall meeting at the station’s headquarters in Lagos.
Otitoju, who previously served as Director of Current Affairs at TVC, brings decades of experience in broadcast journalism to the role. He is widely recognised as a prominent figure on the station’s flagship daily socio-political programme, Journalists’ Hangout, where he offers incisive analysis on national issues.
In separate interviews, several TVC staff members praised the decision, describing it as “wise” and noting that Otitoju has “paid his dues” in transforming the station. They highlighted his earlier stint as Acting Director of News, during which TVC clinched the Best Station of the Year award for two consecutive years.
Staff expressed optimism that under Otitoju’s leadership, TVC is poised to reclaim its position as a pacesetter in Nigeria’s competitive broadcast industry.
A respected investigative journalist, historian, polemicist, and political analyst, Otitoju hails from Ekirin Adde in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. As Nigeria gears up for the 2027 general elections, his new role places him at the forefront of shaping the station’s coverage of critical national discourse.
The appointment has drawn congratulations from various quarters, underscoring Otitoju’s reputation as a towering figure in Nigerian media with over three decades of excellence.
Profile:
Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, a veteran Nigerian journalist and prominent anchor on TVC News’ flagship program *Journalists’ Hangout*, is widely regarded as an investigative journalist, political analyst, and security commentator. With over three decades in broadcast journalism, he has earned awards including Political Analyst of the Year and Security Analyst of the Year.
His work often involves on-the-ground reporting, in-depth analysis of national issues, and discussions on corruption, security, and governance.
While Otitoju is frequently described as a “fearless” and “investigative” figure—known for dissecting socio-political matters without prejudice—specific standalone exposés are less prominently documented in public sources compared to his daily commentary and panel discussions.
His investigations typically emerge through *Journalists’ Hangout* segments, personal insights from sources, and field visits. Here are some key examples drawn from his reported work:- **Accountant General of the Federation Fraud (2022)**:
During a *Journalists’ Hangout* discussion on the arrest of the Accountant General for alleged embezzlement, Otitoju revealed—based on a trusted EFCC source—that the stolen amount exceeded the reported N80 billion. This claim highlighted deeper probing into the scandal.-
**Fake NGO Allegations Against TVC**: In an earlier incident, Otitoju investigated threats from a purported NGO linked to Nigerian generals.
He verified that the organization’s address was nonexistent and described its operator as a “freelance miscreant,” preventing potential misinformation from affecting his station.- **Security and Counter-Terrorism Reporting**:
Otitoju has conducted field investigations in conflict zones, including visits to military fronts like Buni Yadi in Yobe State and areas affected by Boko Haram (e.g., Sambisa Forest references in public discourse). His analyses often cover banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism financing, such as allegations that ransom payments fund property acquisitions by criminals.-
**Refinery Operations and Infrastructure**: He has personally toured facilities like the Warri Refinery to verify operational status amid public skepticism, countering claims of shutdowns with on-site evidence. Similar fact-checking extends to projects like the Mambilla Dam, where he highlighted unfulfilled allocations despite surveys.-
**Police Funding and Governance Issues**: Otitoju disclosed details on police “imprest” allowances for Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and critiqued funding gaps, noting contributions from states and private donors like Aliko Dangote.-
**Other Topical Probes**: Discussions have included electoral reforms (e.g., electronic transmission of results), bandit designation as terrorists, anchor borrowers’ loan discrepancies (attributing misuse to politicians via fake cooperatives), and high-profile cases like the JAMB result forgery saga.Otitoju’s style emphasizes balanced analysis, source-based revelations, and direct verification, often distinguishing him in debates on national controversies.
His promotion to Director of News at TVC in December 2025 reflects recognition of this track record in reshaping the station’s credibility.
News
Sharia: Indonesian couple caned 140 times for sex and alcohol offences
Under Aceh’s Islamic criminal code, sex outside marriage is punishable by 100 strokes of the cane, while consuming alcohol carries 40 strokes.
•Getty Images : A woman was crying during the public caning in Aceh
A couple in Indonesia has been caned 140 times for having sex outside marriage and drinking alcohol because it violates Sharia, or Islamic religious law.
The 21-year-old woman fainted after three female officers took turns striking her with a rattan cane, while she cried. After she collapsed, she was carried off the stage by female officers to an ambulance.
The couple were caned on Thursday along with four others, including an officer from the Islamic police force, who were all found guilty of violating Sharia.
Caning is a common punishment for breaking Islamic law in religiously conservative Aceh, although the practice has long drawn criticism from rights groups who say it’s cruel.
Under Aceh’s Islamic criminal code, sex outside marriage is punishable by 100 strokes of the cane, while consuming alcohol carries 40 strokes.
News
Edo Gov Okpebholo Reshuffles Cabinet
The Governor said that he is confident the adjustments will enhance coordination, policy implementation, and governance in the State.
The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has announced the reshuffling of his cabinet aimed at strengthening governance and efficiency in the state administration.
The changes were confirmed on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Ikhilor.
The statement reads:
” Vincent Osas Uwadiae has been redeployed from the Ministry of Oil and Gas Resources to the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development as Commissioner.
Yakubu Oshiorenua Musa, previously Commissioner for Lands and Housing, is now Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Also, Gani Audu, former Chief of Staff, has been nominated as Commissioner for Oil and Gas Resources, pending confirmation by the Edo State House of Assembly.”
The changes take effect from January 30, 2026.
According to the statement, the Governor said he is confident that the adjustments will enhance coordination, policy implementation, and governance in the State.
News
Senate makes a caricature of Abuja-Kaduna train, revives probe panel headed by Adams Oshiomole
Displeased by the “sorry state” of the entire train facilities; AKPABIO took a swipe at the sluggish nature of the Chinese trains when he said “bicycle-even keke is faster than Abuja-Kaduna train.
The Senate on Thursday called for a thorough investigation into the entire contract and execution agreements of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway line, 10 years after it began full commercial operations.
Worried about the deplorable condition of both the railway line and the attendant poor service delivery by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Senate resuscitated its Ad-hoc Committee set up last November but was hampered by a lack of funds to commence the probe of the national asset.
One train ride from Abuja to Kaduna last week by Senator Abdul Ningi -who represents Bauchi Central was all it took to reveal -the deplorable state of Nigeria’s rail transport network-especially the tracks linking the Northern corridors.
Coming on Order 42-, NINGI laments how a journey that should have taken an hour at most took over three hours on a worn-out, second-hand train.
“A Nigerian tragedy”-that’s how the PDP Bauchi Senator refers to the situation as he recounts how the Abuja -Kaduna train service has diminished in quality -from transporting 10,000 passengers daily when it first started to running a single shuttle of less than a thousand passengers a day.
Ningi’s further laments how the revenue from the train service has dwindled over time and called on the Senate to treat the issue as “a national emergency”.
The Abuja-Kaduna railway line was completed in 2015 as the first phase of the Nigerian railway modernization project.
Constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Abuja-Kaduna railway was largely funded by project-tied loans obtained from China.
But over the years -, the Abuja-Kaduna rail route has been at the receiving end of poor maintenance, vandalism, bandit attacks and derailments-with the most recent incident in last August in ASHAM.
Chairman Senate Committee on Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero backs the motion ; calling for a concerted effort to fix the “eyesore ‘ the Abuja -Kaduna rail line has become.
In his contribution, President of the Senate, Godswill AKPABIO questions the entire contract agreement and execution of the rail project and calls for a thorough investigation into every single KOBO spent.
Displeased by the “sorry state” of the entire train facilities; AKPABIO took a swipe at the sluggish nature of the Chinese trains when he said “bicycle-even keke is faster than Abuja-Kaduna train.
The Senate subsequently revived its ad hoc committee set up since last November to investigate the matter but was hampered by a paucity of funds.
The probe panel headed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole was formally inaugurated at plenary on Thursday and given six weeks to complete the assignment.
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