Senior military leaders from countries in the Global Coalition against ISIS came together in Bahrain for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)-led Combined Force Commanders’ Conference (CFC) on February 1-2. The conference provided an important opportunity for the Chiefs of Joint Operations (CJO) from 13 nations—including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, The Netherlands, and USCENTCOM—to discuss the ongoing global efforts to defeat ISIS and assess the group’s current threat level worldwide. The Coalition’s mission began in 2014, sparked by a meeting on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Wales, where 13 nations…
Author: TheStories
With preparations for the 2025 Hajj in full swing, at least 1,700 intending pilgrims from Sokoto State have made their initial deposits, according to the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Agency. The agency’s acting secretary, Ladan Ibrahim, shared this update during a media briefing on Monday, highlighting both the progress made and the challenges ahead. “We have already secured accommodation in both Mecca and Medina, finalized agreements with catering services, and arranged comfortable camp facilities for our pilgrims. So far, the state has remitted over ₦5 billion to NAHCON,” Ladan stated. ALSO READ Nigeria secures $1.1bn AfDB loan to provide eectricity for…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuje, Abuja. Yusuf was arraigned on a five-count charge, including embezzlement, conferring undue advantage, and fraud amounting to N90,439,178.00. Count One:”That you, Prof. Usman Yusuf, sometime between 2016 and July 2017, whilst being the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and being a public officer in the services of…
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has reiterated that obtaining a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) is necessary for students to access the Lagos State Government’s policy of free West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration for SS3 students in state-funded secondary schools. This initiative, part of the Lagos State Government’s THEMES PLUS agenda, continues to support its free education policy from kindergarten through SS3. It is aligned with broader efforts to provide essential public services, including affordable housing, efficient transportation, free healthcare, youth and small business empowerment programs, enhanced security, and improved road infrastructure. Ayo Subair, Executive Chairman of LIRS,…
Nigeria has secured a $1.1 billion loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to provide electricity for 5 million people by 2026. President Bola Tinubu shared this news through a speech delivered by Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, at the recently concluded two-day Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Tinubu also highlighted that AfDB’s $200 million contribution to the Nigeria Electrification Project will bring electricity to 500,000 people by 2025. “I acknowledge AfDB’s $1.1 billion, which will provide electricity for 5 million people by…
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has dismissed concerns that President Bola Tinubu’s participation in BRICS+ could lead to tensions with a potential Donald Trump administration in the United States. He emphasized that Tinubu’s leadership style aligns with liberal democratic values, which he believes mirrors the political philosophy of the United States. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South District in the 10th National Assembly, stated that despite differences in governance styles, Tinubu’s ideological approach is not at odds with Trump’s. “Tinubu won’t have a problem at all with Donald Trump because Tinubu is a liberalist; Tinubu is…
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced the safety audit of commercial airline Max Air after one of the planes of the local carrier suffered a tyre burst while landing at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Tuesday night. A source told Channels Television that the audit began immediately after the incident which occurred at 10:57 pm on Tuesday when Flight VM1605, which had earlier departed from Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos, touched down in Kano. The plane suffered a tyre burst, causing panic among passengers but all those onboard were safely evacuated without major injuries. It…
The Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) hub of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria, is deeply alarmed by reports of threats to the life of Ibadan-based journalist Mr. Tayo Oyeladun of Lagelu FM. According to a distress message shared on his Facebook page on Thursday, January 30, 2023, Oyeladun claimed that the threats were linked to a program he anchored, titled “Bosenlo.” Following the broadcast, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Soun of Ogbomoso reportedly contacted one of his senior colleagues to express dissatisfaction with comments made by a guest on the program. Subsequently, Oyeladun began receiving…
As of February 3, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed a total of N20,074,050,000 for institutional fees, benefiting at least 192,906 students enrolled in various tertiary institutions across the country. This update was shared in a statement by Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director of NELFUND, and made available to the press in Abuja on Monday. Sawyerr further revealed that the Fund had received loan applications from 364,042 students to date. In addition, a total of 169,114 students have received monthly stipends through the NELFUND scheme, amounting to N12,818,960,000. Each of the beneficiaries has been provided with a stipend…
The Governing Council of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has confirmed the promotion of 20 academic staff to the rank of professor and 31 others to the position of reader across various faculties of the institution. This announcement was made in a statement issued to the media on Monday in Ilorin by UNILORIN’s Registrar, Mr. Mansur Alfanla. According to Alfanla, the 20 new professors were elevated from the position of reader, while 31 senior lecturers were promoted to the rank of reader. “These promotions followed recommendations from the Appointments and Promotions Committee (A&PC) of UNILORIN, as presented during the council’s…