Author: Mary Ugwuanyi

Mary Ukamaka Ugwunayi is an avid writer with passion for issues related to Nigeria and Africa. She possesses deep knowledge of politics, sports, entertainment and culture, and takes delight in sharing her ideas.
<strong>EFCC Uncovers N13bn Illegal Fuel Subsidy Payments</strong>
Crime, Finance, News, Nigeria

EFCC Uncovers N13bn Illegal Fuel Subsidy Payments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has recovered an estimated N13bn as proceeds of illegal payments made under the subsidy regime between 2017 and 2021. This was contained in the National inherent risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing in the Nigerian extractive sector document obtained by Punch from the website of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit. The report partly read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the agency responsible for the investigation and prosecution of fraudulent subsidies in the oil and gas in Nigeria recovered N12,998,963,178.29 as proceeds of illegal payment made under the subsidy regime between 2017 and 2021.” A breakdown of the figures shows that approximately N4.67bn was recovered in 2017, N4.29bn...
NMA Threatens Strike As Aggrieved Patient’s Relatives Kill Doctor In Delta
Crime, News, Nigeria

NMA Threatens Strike As Aggrieved Patient’s Relatives Kill Doctor In Delta

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has spoken against the alleged killing of a Delta-based doctor identified as Uyi Iluobe, by relatives of a patient. The incident reportedly happened on Saturday in Oghara, Delta State. The NMA president, Uche Ojinmah, in a statement said the association received the news of the killing with shock and sadness. The association described the onslaught on the doctor, by aggrieved relatives of a patient who passed away from suspected gunshot injuries as unjustifiable. The statement read, “It is unbelievable that in the face of a debilitating medical brain drain, the few doctors that patriotically decided to stay back and take care of our fellow citizens are being murdered by same Nigerians. “While we sympathise with the family of the pa...
<strong>BREAKING: Buhari Signs N21.83 Trillion 2023 Budget</strong>
Finance, News, Nigeria

BREAKING: Buhari Signs N21.83 Trillion 2023 Budget

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the 2023 Appropriation Bill into law. The President signed the 2023 transition budget in the early hours of Tuesday at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The budget was signed in the presence of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other members of the Federal Executive Council. President Buhari in his speech at the event said his administration would expedite important infrastructure projects across the country as he approaches the end of his tenure on May 29, 2023. He said that the budget is N21.83 trillion aggregate expenditure, marking an increase of N1.32 trillion over the previous executive proposal of N20.51 trillion. ...
<strong>Obi: Obasanjo Can’t Win His Polling Unit – Tinubu</strong>
Elections, News, Nigeria

Obi: Obasanjo Can’t Win His Polling Unit – Tinubu

Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed pity for his Labour Party, LP, counterpart, Peter Obi, following his endorsement by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. The APC presidential candidate stated that Obasanjo lacks the capacity to win his polling unit, hence Obi risks failure for associating with the former president. Tinubu stated this in a statement issued by the Director and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Bayo Onanuga. According to Tinubu, nobody in Ogun State could depend on Obasanjo to win a position as the governor or councillor.   He said that the former president has never successfully made anybody a president in Nigeria. The statement read, “From our records, President Obasanjo has...
<strong>Why Obasanjo Endorsed Peter Obi – Omokri</strong>
Elections, News, Nigeria

Why Obasanjo Endorsed Peter Obi – Omokri

A former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo endorsed Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi because he always wanted a president from the South-East. Omokri who is a strong supporter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, while reacting to the Obasanjo’s choice of Obi in a tweet on Sunday described the Obasanjo as a good-hearted man. The former presidential aide said that Obasanjo wants a president from south east extraction to heal the wounds from the civil war which lasted from 1967 to 1970.     Omokri tweeted, “Obasanjo is a good hearted man. He has always wanted a president from SE or close to SE as a way to heal the civil war wounds...
<strong>2023 Election Is A Chance To Birth A New Country – Jonathan</strong>
Elections, News, Nigeria

2023 Election Is A Chance To Birth A New Country – Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria has urged Nigerians to strive towards using the general elections this year to birth a new country. He stated this in his new year message to Nigerians on Saturday. Jonathan said that despite the challenges faced in the past year, the new year offers an opportunity for a new beginning. He said, “Last year was, without a doubt, filled with gains and losses. As a country, we experienced a devastating flood that resulted in the death of many lives and the destruction of property and sources of livelihood of millions of citizens. “As a people, we survived the horror of the flood amid other national challenges, lived with hope unto God and faith in our nation, and triumphed into this New Year. “This year holds great possibilitie...
<strong>Full Text Of President Buhari’s New Year Message To Nigerians</strong>
Elections, News, Nigeria

Full Text Of President Buhari’s New Year Message To Nigerians

My Fellow Countrymen and Women. I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year. First, I would like to thank and honour the Almighty who saw us through the year 2022 and has given us the opportunity to see another year. Each New Year is an opportunity to reflect on the past year, reposition, and move forward with the New. As we celebrate the opportunity to be alive in this year 2023, we must also acknowledge the passing away of our brothers and sisters who didn’t make it into this new year. May their souls rest in perfect peace. This year is particularly important to me because this message is in essence valedictory. After having the honour of serving you, my compatriots, for the last seven plus years, my tenure as your President in the most revered tradition of our on...
<strong>Buhari Set To Sign 2023 Budget On Tuesday – Lawan</strong>
Finance, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Buhari Set To Sign 2023 Budget On Tuesday – Lawan

The 2023 appropriation bill will on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. This was disclosed by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to state house correspondents after meeting with Buhari on Friday. This follows the passage of a 21.83 trillion budget for the 2023 fiscal year by the house of representatives and senate. Both chambers of the national assembly increased the budget spending by N1.33 trillion from the proposed N20.51 trillion to N2.83 trillion. President Buhari had proposed a $70 per barrel oil benchmark but the legislators while passing the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), raised it to $73 per barrel. Other parameters included daily oil production estimate of 1.69 million barrels (inclusive of condensates of 300,...
<strong>Why Some People Don’t Support Me – Peter Obi</strong>
Elections, News, Nigeria

Why Some People Don’t Support Me – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has said that there will be danger if all Nigerians support his presidential bid. Obi, however, stated that those who led the country to its present economic and socio-economic woes were the ones against his ambition. He said this in Enugu, the Enugu State capital shortly after he signed the condolence register of late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze. Obi said, “What is happening is that some people have different opinions, everybody should not support me and everybody will not support me. In fact, if everybody supports me, there is danger. Some will disagree. See Also: I Warned Obi To Withdraw, Says Arthur Eze Backs Atiku “Some people have ...
<strong>Kogi Confirms Explosion During Buhari’s Visit, Names Suspects</strong>
News, Nigeria, Security

Kogi Confirms Explosion During Buhari’s Visit, Names Suspects

The Kogi State government has confirmed the explosion which rocked the state during a visit by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday. The state government blamed the explosion on “enemies of progress” and misguided politicians”. Recall that an explosion was reported around a community in Okene Local Government Area, LGA, of the State on Thursday morning. The incident occurred at a mosque near the palace of Ado Ibrahim, the paramount ruler of Ebiraland.   The development took place while President Buhari was in the area to inaugurate projects executed by the state government. Reports say at least four people lost their lives during the incident while two others were injured. The incident was initially denied by the Kogi commissioner for information, Kingsley Fan...