The Nigeria Customs Service says it has generated N102.5 billion revenues in the Kano/Jigawa Command in 2024. The Comptroller, Dauda Chana said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Thursday in Kano. He said the figures represented 94 per cent increase in the revenue generated in the previous year, and attributed the feat to the strategic revenue collection approach adopted by the command. On anti smuggling campaign, Chana said the command seized contraband goods with N235,290,320 Duty Paid Value. He listed the items to include 136 bags of foreign rice; 238 cartons of pasta, 534 cartons of creamer milk and 210 kilogramme of kola nuts. Other seized items included 552 bales of second-hand clothing; 371 parcels of cannabis, 74,870 tablets of tramadol, 1,290 expired/fake pharmaceutical products, and 4,410kg of Pangolin scales. According to Chana, the command is working with sister security agencies, terminal operators, licensed agents...

The travails of Gift Orban at Olympique Lyonnais of France are finally over after TSG Hoffenheim of Germany confirmed the signing of the Nigerian striker on Thursday evening. The Bundesliga outfit announced the capture of Orban on a long-term deal from Lyon after which Italian transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano revealed the amount Hoffenheim got him. “Official, confirmed. Gift Orban leaves OL and joins Hoffenheim on €9m fee plus €3m add-ons. Contract valid until June 2029,” Romano announced in a post on his official X page. The 22-year-old attacker will wear jersey number 14 at Hoffenheim even as he has now teamed up with his fellow Nigerian compatriot and central defender, Kevin Akpoguma. Orban has struggled for consistent game time since moving to Lyon from KAA Gent of Belgium in 2023, having played only five games this season, starting just twice in the Ligue 1. Hoffenheim managing director for sport,...

As of December 2024, the U.S. Department of State has categorised 21 nations under its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, including seven African countries. This designation shows extreme risks such as armed conflict, terrorism, crime, and civil unrest, making these destinations unsafe for travel. These advisories are updated regularly to reflect current conditions and are based on factors like crime rates, political instability, natural disasters, and health crises. The travel advisory system is divided into four levels: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions: The country is generally safe, but standard vigilance is advised. Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution: Specific safety concerns exist, requiring increased vigilance. Level 3: Reconsider Travel: Significant risks are present, urging travelers to postpone or reconsider. Level 4: Do Not Travel: Severe risks necessitate avoiding travel altogether or departing immediately if already present. For Level 3 and Level 4 advisories, reviews are conducted every six months, while...

The founder of Abel Damina Ministries and Power City International, Pastor Abel Damina, has questioned the belief that Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden was caused by eating fruit from the forbidden tree. Damina stated this during his New Year’s Eve sermon on Tuesday. He said, “Adam and Eve ate nothing. Adam and Eve didn’t eat anything. Were you there? You were not there. So how do we know whether they ate something or not? Jesus was there. Was Jesus there in the Garden of Eden? Yes. Can Jesus explain to us what happened? Yes.” Referencing Mark 7:18-21 in the Bible, Damina went on to argue that it is not what a person eats or drinks that makes them a sinner. He added, “Do you not know that if Adam and Eve ate something, they would not be sinners? It is not what people eat that makes...

Babafemi Ojudu, the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed how he and other allies persuaded President Bola Tinubu to reject an offer to serve as Minister of Finance, under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Ohudu, in an interview on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, recalled that Tinubu had called him to inform him of the offer, saying, “Congratulations to me.” Ojudu, puzzled, said he had asked at the time, “Congratulations for what?” to which Tinubu replied that former President Yar’Adua had invited him to join his government as Minister of Finance. Ojudu said he immediately warned Tinubu about the political risks, drawing a parallel to the fate of Bola Ige, the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who was assassinated under controversial circumstances. “You are in Action Congress. Are you not a student of history? Do you not see...

The agency saddled with the exercise should be investigated The recent publication by the Associated Press that quoted leaked documents of the United Nations, that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has failed in its assignment is not entirely surprising considering the lack of accountability in government affairs. But it is nonetheless disturbing that the agency established to clean up crude oil spill contamination in Ogoni, Rivers State, has gulped almost $1 billion without much to show for it. As the AP report pointed out, the HYPREP selected cleanup contractors had no relevant experience, while also sending soil samples to laboratories that didn’t have the equipment for tests they claimed to perform. In addition, auditors were physically blocked from making sure work had been completed. Recognising the human and environmental tragedy associated with oil contamination in the Ogoni region – where oil exploration and production began in the 1950s –...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned that “in the absence of visible and concrete efforts at addressing pending issues and meeting its expectations, 2025 will be a year of long-drawn confrontation between the union and the Federal Government.” Describing efforts made by the Federal Government to address its issues last year as window-dressing and cosmetic, ASUU said the FG made no major difference in the university education sector, continued its neglect of the university system and failed to satisfactorily resolve its issues in the year 2024. According to the Chairman of ASUU, Ibadan chapter, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, in a statement on Wednesday, the uninterrupted academic calendar in 2024 was a result of the sacrifice of the union not that the government had addressed its impending issues. The union flayed the FG over policy summersault in the 18 years benchmark for admission into tertiary education and asked the President...

28 Dec Popular Nollywood actresses Toyin Abraham and Mercy Aigbe have expressed frustration over reports of some cinemas not showing their latest movies. The actresses took to social media to voice their concerns, urging cinema operators to be fair in scheduling and to ensure equal opportunities for all filmmakers. Mercy Aigbe, in a post on Instagram today,… 27 Dec Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors is a Nigerian epic series of 2024 which revolves around tradition, power and the supernatural. The mini-series focuses on Ilara, Ondo State during the 18th and 19th centuries. In particular, this film was launched on December 13, 2024, and is a collaboration by the three Adebayos – Femi, Tope and Tijani.… 27 Dec The highly anticipated short film Reflections, directed by Tasha Rumi, has officially premiered on YouTube, delivering a powerful narrative on wealth creation in Nigeria. The premiere took place in grand style on December 26,...

There were 16 barren years before the accolade returned to Nigeria with Osimhen in 2023. A new era of Nigerian excellence seems to have ignited the African football scene. Ademola Lookman’s triumph as the 2024 CAF Player of the Year, hot on the heels of Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023, has seen increased excitement and national pride in the green-white-green. These consecutive wins ended a 16-year drought and raised the question: what awakened the sleeping giants? Is there something magical about the Italian leagues where Lookman and Osimhen honed their skills? Or is this a mere coincidence, a fleeting moment of brilliance? Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: Nigerian footballers are back on the world stage again. The world watches on for the next chapter in this production line. While it may seem like a coincidence, the fact both Osimhen and Lookman became the finished articles in Italy (Napoli...

A United States-based Nigerian expert in the automotive manufacturing industry, Sunday Aluko, has raised the alarm that hackers are now stealing cars using just a phone camera. Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, Aluko emphasised the urgent need for car manufacturers and owners to adopt robust cybersecurity measures to combat this evolving crime. He noted that with modern vehicles relying heavily on electronic systems, car thieves now exploit vulnerabilities that require no physical tampering. The expert said, “By simply capturing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) displayed on a car’s windshield, they can duplicate keys with an automated VIN to key tools, bypass security systems, and steal vehicles within seconds “The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code stamped on every vehicle, providing essential information such as make, model, and manufacturing history. While the VIN is critical for legitimate purposes like recalls and repairs, it has become a tool...