Lafia, Nasarawa State – A devastating fire swept through the New Modern Market in Lafia late Thursday night, destroying more than 30 shops and goods worth millions of Naira. The blaze, which started around 9:30 pm on December 5, raged until the early hours of Friday, December 6, 2024, leaving traders counting heavy losses. Firefighters from the Nasarawa State Fire Service rushed to the scene upon receiving a distress call but faced challenges containing the inferno. Piles of refuse dumped indiscriminately around the market obstructed their efforts, while the intense heat from the flames further hindered operations. Builder Ombogus-Joshua, the…
Author: National Update
Anambra State is currently gripped with tension following the disappearance of Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala, the retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi. The Archbishop was last seen on Friday when he embarked on a journey to Umuchu with his driver. Unfortunately, they have not been heard from since, and their vehicle is also missing. The Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi, has issued a heartfelt plea for prayers, urging the faithful to intercede for the safe return of the Archbishop and his driver. He emphasized the distressing nature of the situation and called…
The Kano Network for Orphans and Human Development had expressed deep grieve over the death of Alh. Mukhtar Yahya Bashir, a retired Assistant Controller of Customs and a passionate philanthropist. Alhaji Bashir passed away on December 4, 2024, in Egypt after battling a long illness. Alh. Bashir’s dedication to improving the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Kano State was evident through his numerous contributions to the organization. His efforts included providing a dedicated vehicle for orphan services, establishing a Tahfeez school for orphans, and initiating an annual feeding program that has supported many children in need. The Kano…
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill, totaling N698.3 billion, to the State House of Assembly for approval. The governor, while presenting the proposed budget, emphasized its title: “The Budget of Innovation & Transportation for Greater Jigawa,” aimed at continuing the momentum of development established in the 2024 fiscal year. He explained that the 2025 budget represents an 82% increase over the total appropriations in the previous year’s budget, reflecting the state’s ongoing commitment to growth and sustainable development. He highlighted that almost 77% of the proposed budget amounting to N536.75b…
****Orders prosecution of violators of the order By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja. The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Bethrand C. Onuoha, has banned the use of fireworks popularly known as “Knockout or Banga” in the State. He gave the order while briefing members of the Command Management Team at the Command Headquarters in Lokoja. The CP further disclosed that some criminal elements use fireworks to commit heinous crimes, adding that the Command would not allow such acts of criminality to continue in the State. The Police boss advised parents and guardians to warn their children and Wards to…
Uhuru Samuel Jalingo Jummai Kefas, the mother of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, and his younger sister, Atsi Kefas narrowly escapeed a kidnapping attempt on Thursday along Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area of the state. The Governor’s mother and other members of the family were driving in a white Hummar Bus along with some security personnel when they ran into some armed men, suspected to be kidnappers at Sondi village along Wukari-Kente road. It was gathered that on sighting the convoy of the Governor’s Mother, the gunmen opened fire on the vehicles in an attempt to stop the…
In a groundbreaking move to reshape Sokoto State’s healthcare sector, the State Commissioner for Health, Hon. Asabe Balarabe on Friday, convened a high-level annual Oversight Committee meeting with key stakeholders. The stakeholders were drawn from SOCHEMA, Primary Health Care, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Emergency Response Team. The meeting, which was centered on improving the state’s healthcare delivery, focused on critical areas such as updates on the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, financial reports and fund utilization, and the assessment of health initiatives’ impact. Hon. Balarabe outlined the key objectives of the meeting…
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has accused ex-party leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya faction of blackmail and attempts to destabilize the party. National Chairman Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major reaffirmed Kwankwaso’s expulsion and urged security agencies to intervene, citing concerns over potential public unrest. The party condemned the group’s alleged interference in the National Assembly and called for strict adherence to court rulings affirming the NNPP’s recognized leadership. “Their recent attempt to interfere with the NNPP caucus in the National Assembly demonstrates desperation. Despite their exit from our party, they remain focused on destabilizing our operations,” Dr.…
The Labour Party(LP) has strongly condemned the defection of five of its lawmakers in the House of Representatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a betrayal of the party’s values and the trust of the electorate. The defectors that included Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau announced their defection in letters read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during Wednesday’s plenary session. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party denounced the defections as unconstitutional, pointing to Section 68(g) of…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja Kogi State House of Assembly has called the State Government to upgrade Ikoyi Health Center in Ijumu Local Government to a full fledged General Hospital to enable it cope with the increasing health needs of the people. The call was contained in a resolution of the House issued at plenary in Lokoja. The adoption followed the adoption of a motion on Urgent Public Importance by Hon. Ishaya Omotayo Adeleye (APC-Ijumu), calling for upgrade of the Health Centre. The House also appealed to the State Government to give approval for the provision of necessary personnel, medical equipment,…