Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has alleged that retired military generals are behind the widespread illegal mining activities across Nigeria.

Oshiomhole made the accusation while participating in a budget report submission by Senator Sampson Ekong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

According to Oshiomhole, the country’s ambition to diversify its economy will remain unachievable unless the government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, takes decisive action against illegal mining.

He emphasized that the individuals responsible for these illegal activities are well-known, particularly retired generals, stating, “The illegal mining happening across the country is being carried out by retired generals. We know them, and everyone in Africa knows them. I even wrote to former President Muhammadu Buhari about it when he was in office.”

Oshiomhole recalled challenges faced during the primary election process in Zamfara due to illegal miners obstructing operations.

He proposed the deployment of military forces to combat the issue, including the use of the Army and the Joint Task Force (JTF), comprising the Army, Police, and Air Force, to take severe action against perpetrators of illegal mining and oil theft.

The committee members voiced their agreement with Oshiomhole’s stance, emphasizing the importance of tackling the issue and urging security agencies to act swiftly.

The panel also agreed to significantly increase the budget allocation for the Ministry of Solid Minerals to address the issue more effectively.

The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has officially announced its relocation from Benin City to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Starting from January 27, 2025, the Tribunal will now hold its proceedings at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, as stated in a notice signed by the Tribunal Secretary, Mu’azu Ibrahim Bagudu, Esq.

The communication, dated January 24, 2025, did not provide specific reasons for the relocation.

The notice read: “I am directed to notify all parties that the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has been relocated to Abuja at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja, effective from Monday, 27th January 2025.”

In response to the relocation, Mr. John Mayaki, former Chief Press Secretary to Edo State’s ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki, expressed support for the move.

Mayaki welcomed the decision, stating that it would help ensure the safety of the Tribunal members, litigants, and electoral materials presented as evidence.

“It is common practice for election petition tribunals to be relocated when necessary. Similar moves have been made for tribunals in states like Ebonyi, Adamawa, Osun, Rivers, Kogi, and Ekiti,” Mayaki noted.

He further added that the relocation would help maintain neutrality and security during the proceedings.

“This decision reflects a commitment to fairness, justice, and impartiality, free from local pressures that could undermine the election petition process,” Mayaki concluded.

Nze Magnus Eze, the South East Bureau Chief of The Sun Newspaper, has been appointed as the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs (State), Bianca Ojukwu.

The appointment was confirmed in a letter dated January 8, 2025, signed by Amb. Bello Kazaure Husseini, the Director of Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A seasoned journalist with decades of experience, Eze is expected to play a significant role in enhancing the strategic communication of Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

His work will align with the core themes of Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora, collectively known as the 4-Ds.

Born on June 25, 1969, in Mgbom N’Achara, Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Eze’s education journey began at Ikwuano Primary School in Mgbom Okposi, followed by his time at Eziokposi High School where he graduated in 1987.

He went on to the University of Uyo, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts in 1992.

Eze is currently pursuing a PhD at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the same institution.

After completing his national service in the Mass Communication Department at Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic), Eze began his career at Newswatch Magazine.

His journalism career spans nearly 30 years, during which he has held notable roles such as Editor of Newsday Newspaper in Abuja (2004-2006), Deputy Editor of Newsworld Magazine, and Regional Correspondent for South Africa-based AU Media.

He is now serving as Assistant Editor and South East Bureau Chief at The Sun Newspaper.

Eze is married to Anenechi, and together they have five children. He is also known for his significant contributions to community development.

In 2014, he founded The Mezie Okposi Organization, which includes the Mezie Okposi Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Mezie Okposi Charities, and the Okposi Geriatric Project.

These initiatives have positively impacted both the youth and elderly, focusing on leadership development, value orientation, cultural preservation, and community service.

Affectionately known as Nze Magnus, he is admired for his generosity and dedication to his community.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed new chairpersons and key executives to oversee 42 federal agencies, marking a significant move to enhance governance and improve the management of public institutions.

Among the notable appointees are former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who has been appointed Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, the former Minister of External Affairs, who will now chair the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA); and Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, who will lead the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).

As part of his efforts to strengthen governance structures, Tinubu has also appointed Dr. Kayode Isiak Opeifa as Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Raji Kazeem Kolawole as Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).

Hon. Hilliard Eta from Cross River has been named Chairman of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), while Senator Magnus Abe from Rivers State will chair the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.

In his announcement, President Tinubu emphasized the advisory and oversight roles of the board chairpersons, cautioning them not to involve themselves in the day-to-day operations of the agencies.

“Your primary role is to offer oversight and strategic direction, not to micromanage,” the President stated.

The appointments span various critical sectors, including health, education, infrastructure, and technology.

The new chairpersons for other significant agencies include:

• Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria – Nasiru Gawuna (Chairman)
• National Inland Waterways Authority – Musa Sarkin Adar (Chairman)
• Industrial Training Fund – Hamma Adama Ali Kumo (Chairman)
• Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta – Abdullahi Dayo Israel (Chairman)
• Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) – Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar (Chairman)

Additional appointments in other sectors include:

• National Agency for the Great Green Wall – Senator Magnus Abe, Chairman (Rivers)
• Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company – Sulaiman Argungu, Chairman (Kebbi)
• National Teachers Institute – Festus Fuanter, Chairman (Plateau)
• Nigerian Institute of Education Planning and Administration – Victor Tombari Giadom, Chairman (Rivers)
• National Sugar Development Council – Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola, Chairman (Osun)
• Nigeria Postal Service – D. J. Kekemeke, Chairman (Ondo)
• Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute – Durosimi Meseko, Chairman (Kogi)

In the health sector, further appointments include:

• Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti – Durotolu Oyebode Bankole, Chairman (Ogun)
• Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta – Abdullahi Dayo Israel, Chairman (Lagos)
• Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja – Nze Chidi Duru, Chairman (Anambra)
• Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund – Shola Olofin, Chairman (Ekiti)
• Federal Scholarship Board – Babatunde Fakoyede, Chairman (Ekiti)
• National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency – Edward Omo-Erewa, Chairman (Edo)
• Federal Medical Centre, Asaba – Dr. Mary Alile Idele, Chairman (Edo)
• Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa – Felix Chukwumenoye Morka, Chairman (Delta)
• Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) – Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, Chairman (Kaduna)

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, emphasized that these appointments reflect Tinubu’s dedication to inclusive governance and his desire to ensure capable leadership across federal agencies.

The President also instructed the newly appointed officials to prioritize national interests, enhance service delivery, and work towards advancing the administration’s growth and development goals, with a strong focus on transparency and accountability.

The Labour Party (LP) in Ogun State has urged the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, to initiate a peace meeting to reconcile the various factions within the party.

This call comes after the Court of Appeal upheld Abure’s position as the LP’s national chairman, following a prolonged leadership dispute.

The dispute involved a faction, allegedly supported by the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, which had formed a caretaker committee led by former minister Nenadi Usman.

Abure challenged the move in court, and on January 17, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled in his favor, confirming his leadership.

In response to the judgment, Ogun LP’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tokunbo Peters, hailed the ruling as a victory for the party, describing it as “a triumph for truth, fairness, and the rule of law.”

The Ogun chapter also called on Abure to embrace forgiveness and focus on uniting the party to strengthen its chances in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

“We urge Julius Abure to forgive those who opposed him and worked to undermine his position. A meeting must be held immediately to bring together the Abure-led National Working Committee, Peter Obi, and Dr. Alex Otti to reconcile and chart a unified path forward,” the statement read.

Ogun LP pointed out the negative impact the internal conflict had on the party, particularly how it undermined momentum and public support.

The chapter emphasized the need for urgent reconciliation to refocus the party on addressing Nigeria’s pressing issues, including poverty, hunger, and poor governance.

The chapter also expressed strong support for Abure, praising his dedication to the party’s core values and expressing confidence in his ability to lead the LP toward success.

“It is now crucial to unify the party for the greater good of Nigerians. The Ogun State LP fully supports Abure’s leadership and trusts his vision and ability to guide the party to victory,” the statement concluded.