Author: News Room
The presidency has announced that Femi Gbajabiamila remains the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and has not been replaced. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said this in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. Read the full statement below. The attention of the presidency has been drawn to a viral falsehood circulating on social media suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely. The Chief of Staff remains in his position.…
The Presidency has denied a widely circulating report that President Bola Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. It described the report as false, urging Nigerians to disregard such claims. A statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said Gbajabiamila and Okunola still retainsl their positions. The statement read: “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a viral falsehood circulating on social media suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. “There is absolutely no truth…
A team of Nigerian Immigration Service personnel in Jigawa State has intercepted six suspected trafficking victims at the Babura Plantation Border Patrol Base, foiling an attempt to smuggle them to Europe via Libya and Niger Republic. Arewa PUNCH recalls that only recently, the Jigawa NAPTIP Command warned residents to be cautious of criminals exploiting innocent and unsuspecting individuals who, during the festive period, disguise their travel gesture as opportunities abroad, but which often leads to human trafficking. Our correspondent gathered that the suspects were attempting to cross the border undetected, but the vigilant NIS officers thwarted their plans. According to…
A teenager identified as Chidera has been killed during a suspected robbery attack in the Mmiata Anam area of Anambra State. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday. An anti-cultism advocacy platform, Naija Confra, stated in a post on Thursday that Chidera was allegedly accosted by a group of boys said to be from the Umuoba community. The platform further stated that the assailants reportedly demanded money from him and attempted to rob him. He was, however, said to have been killed in the course of the attack. “Earlier today, Naija Confra reported an incident in Mmiata Anam, Anambra State, where…
If Lagos were a person, she would be wearing a N5m sequined gown while standing under the golden glow of a thousand festive lights, outshining the stars themselves. This December, the city has reached its annual fever pitch. From the newly cleared construction lanes of the Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway to the strobe-lit inner sanctums of Victoria Island, the “Detty December” machine is in full throttle. We are dancing on the edge of a N58tn budget, trying to drown out the “Budget of Restoration” with the heavy bass of Afrobeat concerts. As the diaspora returns with Houston-tinged accents, London road-slang, or even…
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria has renewed its call for the privatisation of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, urging the Federal Government to transparently conclude the process by the first quarter of 2026. The association said the timely privatisation of the refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited would eliminate the recurring fiscal burden on the government, improve operational efficiency, attract private capital and technical expertise, and align Nigeria’s refining sector with global best practices. In a statement, the PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, said sustained public funding of the refineries has failed to deliver…
Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh believes Nigeria have laid a strong foundation for a deep run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after opening their campaign with a vital victory in Fez, insisting the manner of the win reflects the team’s potential in Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Nigeria began their group campaign with a 2–1 win over Tanzania, with goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman securing three points and easing early pressure. Speaking in an interview with Isemuan Iyomon in Fez, Oliseh stressed the importance of making a winning start at the tournament. “It was very…
Kelly Clarkson delivered a festive start to NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix. The singer, 43, performed her classic Christmas song “Underneath the Tree” to kick off the broadcast on Thursday, December 25, dressed in a beaded silver gown in a prerecorded segment before the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders game, backed up by the Cowboys Cheerleaders. Clarkson stood atop an illustrated Christmas tree that had been superimposed onto the NFL field. NFL Christmas Gameday featured two NFC division rivalries streaming globally on Netflix. The Dallas Cowboys — of whom Clarkson is a lifelong fan — and the Washington Commanders faced…
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed that all pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have been rescued and reunited with their families, bringing formal closure to the 21 November school attack that shocked the country. In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Bishop of Kontagora, Bulus Yohanna, the diocese said a comprehensive reconciliation and verification exercise established that 230 persons were actually abducted during the raid and that all have now regained their freedom. “The final reconciliation confirms that 230 pupils…
Former governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, has praised the incumbent governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for continuing and renovating projects initiated during his administration, describing the act as uncommon and commendable. Nyame said unlike some past administrations that abandoned inherited projects to embark on new ones, Governor Kefas chose to complete, renovate and upgrade existing projects, a decision he said demonstrated responsible leadership. Nyame who gave the commendation on Thursday in Jalingo during a chat with journalists on the occasion of his 70th birthday, specifically lauded the renovation and upgrading of the Taraba State airport, major markets, and government…
