Author: user user

Nigerian hitmaker, T.I Blaze (born Akintunde Abiodun Timileyin in Ogun State) has unveiled ‘Porsche’, a single that pushes his signature mix of grit and Afrobeats melody into new territory.

Signed to Dapper Music and Entertainment and distributed by Dvpper Digital, T.I Blaze has steadily risen to prominence, building on a streak of impactful singles that showcase his consistency and cultural relevance.

Since breaking out with ‘Sometimes’, T.I Blaze has delivered records that speak to both the streets and the mainstream, from the charting success of ‘Beamer’ to fan favourites like ‘Dodge’, ‘Mario’, ‘Eko’, ‘Introduction’ and ‘Trenches Love’. With ‘Porsche’, he adds to this evolving discography, continuing a ‘car-themed’ creative thread that has become a signature mark of his artistry.

Speaking on the track, T.I Blaze explains:’Porsche represents balance – the enjoyment and the hustle. Songs like ‘Beamer’ and ‘Dodge’ opened doors and connected with people in their own way, and Porsche is me showing growth, proving that no matter how far I go, grace and balance will always drive everything I do.’

Four housemates recently evicted from the Big Brother Naija house, Thelma, Kuture, Joanna, and Bright Morgan, have shared thoughts about the connections and relationships they built inside the house.

Bright Morgan, while speaking alongside others in an interview with Tribune Online, clarified his stance with fellow housemate Dede. According to him, his actions were about setting boundaries rather than hatred.

‘Mide and Dede are close, so I just wanted to set boundaries. I don’t dislike her, but we had an issue the other day. Moving forward, I know I don’t have to be friends with everyone. I’m intentional about my relationships. When I have eyes on someone, I just focus on them,’ he explained.

Responding to questions on whether there was more to their connection with KayBobo, especially after a ‘kissing spree’ during her time in the BBNaija House, which apparently shocked other evicted housemates, Thelma revealed she values trust above all else.

She recalled feeling uncomfortable when she learned Isabella had shared KayBobo’s bed before he moved to hers, which created a wrong impression.

She said, ‘I didn’t see the need to explain to anyone, but I wasn’t cool with how things looked. I’d rather KayBobo come outside the house and explain the context, especially after he told housemates when asked about him and Thelma that the house is a social experiment. I don’t owe them an explanation. I just want clarity.’

On her part, Joanna addressed her relationship with Faith, explaining that what viewers saw on the reality show was not a serious relationship but just a friendship.

‘Faith isn’t a relationship person, and we decided to remain true friends. For me, mental connection comes first before anything else,’ she said.

On another relationship drama, Kuture recalled an outburst involving Isabella and Imisi, where things got heated to the point that Isabella poured pepper on Sultana before it was later resolved in a surprising way.

‘They called me to be a witness when they decided to settle their fight with a kiss,’ Kuture added.

Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has inaugurated a new Pension Committee tasked with ensuring fairness, transparency, and timely settlement of arrears owed to retired civil servants in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Auwal Tukur, performed the inauguration on Monday at the State Secretariat Complex in Yola on behalf of the governor.

Tukur said the administration remains committed to easing the financial burden of retirees who have faced delays in receiving their entitlements.

As part of the renewed effort, Fintiri approved ?8 billion for the payment of pension liabilities. Of this, ?5 billion is allocated to state pensioners and ?3 billion to local government retirees across the 21 LGAs. He noted that payments would follow a ‘first retired, first served’ system to prevent favoritism.

The SSG commended the work of the previous committee and expressed confidence in the new team chaired by Engineer Benson Jelani.

‘The selection of the committee members was based on their competence and proven track records,’ Tukur said. ‘We trust that under Engr. Jelani’s leadership, this committee will perform with diligence and integrity.’

In his remarks, Jelani thanked the governor for the trust placed in the committee and pledged to carry out its duties with fairness and accountability.

‘We assure His Excellency and the good people of Adamawa that we will execute our duties without fear or favour,’ he said.

The committee’s reconstitution comes as calls for pension reform grow nationwide, with many states still burdened by large outstanding pension liabilities.

The Imole Progressive Network (IPN) has congratulated the people of Nigeria and Ondo State as the nation celebrates its 65th independence anniversary.

The group paid tribute to the country’s founding fathers, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, for their visionary leadership and unrelenting struggle against British hegemony.

Their efforts, the group noted, culminated in Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960, following the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates.

In a statement released by the group, its leader, Mr Mike Adeyanju, emphasised the significance of the national milestone as a moment for both celebration and reflection.

‘This is a celebration of national freedom, unity and progress, a reflection on the achievements of our forefathers and a pointer to a hopeful future,’ the group declared.

The statement highlighted the importance of continued unity and collective effort in nation-building.

‘This day renews our aspirations for a stronger and more prosperous nation. It refreshes our minds and encourages us to uphold patriotism, bridge divisions and work together for the betterment of our country, focusing on our collective potential and shared dream of greatness,’ it said.

Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the group added: ‘The members of Imole Progressive Network, under the leadership of Engr. Mike Adeyanju, wish our dear country fruitfulness and success in all her endeavours.

‘We will continue to contribute to nation-building through unity, solidarity, resilience, enduring strength, the spirit of perseverance and hope for the future.

‘We remain committed to promoting patriotism, celebrating our rich culture and heritage, supporting economic reforms and advocating good governance.

‘We see a greater Nigeria in our unity and willingness to serve selflessly.’

The Business and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum (BHSF) in Edo, on Wednesday, decried the dearth of their businesses, owing to the unwarranted arrest and harassment of their customers by law enforcement agents, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Addressing newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Benin, the state Chairman of BHSF, Bishop Omogiade Edokpolo, urged the EFCC to desist from indiscriminate arrest of their customers and lodgers, claiming over 93 young people were arrested in various hotels in the state recently.

He added that the whereabouts of the 93 lodgers arrested by security agents remain unknown to the families of their customers, who are allegedly in EFCC custody.

Edokpolo appealed to the Chairman of the EFCC to swiftly address the issues of unwarranted arrests by its operatives in Edo State, adding that any sort of arrest that the EFCC wishes to carry out should at least be backed by the provision of a legal warrant.

He also called on the EFCC Chairman to redeploy the Edo state EFCC Zonal Director to other states, as businesses and economic activities in the state are suffering, owing to their style of operations targeting hotels and businesses only in Edo.

According to Edokpolo, EFCC has, by its actions, so far shown a calculated attempt to suffocate businesses in Edo.

He said, ‘What we will no longer accept as business owners is the EFCC oppression and depression of businesses in Edo State.

‘Our biggest fear is not that we don’t want them to do their jobs, but they have successfully created a runaway mentality in people from owning and operating businesses in Edo State. ‘

Responding to the allegation via telephone, EFCC spokesman, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said the Business and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum (BHSF) in Edo State has no understanding of the operations of the agency on its mandate to tackle all economic and financial crimes in the country.

He said that the EFCC investigates cases of economic and financial crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and other related offenses.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has released a list of 101 products that have been withdrawn, suspended, or cancelled in Nigeria.

The agency said the affected products are no longer permitted for manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, or use in the country.

Tribune Online reports that the product includes Artemether/Lumefantrine 40mg/240mg Tablets, Amaryl M SR Tablets, Abacavir Sulfate/Lamivudine Dispersible Tablets 60mg/30mg, Aprovasc 150mg/5mg tablets, ASAQ(Artesunate amodiaquine Winthrop) 100mg/270mg Tablets, Betopic Eye drop, Efavirenz 600mg Tablets and Flagyl Suspension.

Others are Iliadin Adult 0.05% Metered Nose Spray, Invanz 1g Injections and Invega (Paliperidone) 3mg extended release tablets.

In a statement on NAFDAC’s X handle, ‘A product’s Certificate of Registration is considered withdrawn when its use is discontinued at the request of the Market Authorisation Holder.

‘A registration certificate may be suspended when the conditions under which it was issued are no longer met, pending a determination by the agency.

‘It is regarded as cancelled when NAFDAC revokes the registration license entirely.’

The agency urged the public and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and food sectors to take note of the latest decision and comply accordingly.

Stakeholders in Edo State have laminated what they described as the continuous loss of revenue to neighbouring Delta State through taxes.

The people made the claim at a stakeholders meeting, organised by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), on Wednesday in Benin

The interactive session of the one day programme had in attendance top government functionaries, heads and representatives of ministries, departments and agencies

Engr Stainless Ijeghede, Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency, said he had made reports on the payment of taxes of oil company workers in Edo State to Delta, noting that the Edo State government was yet to take any action.

He said, ‘When I was working at that place, at the end of the month, I saw in my pay slip that the tax was paid to Delta.

‘What that means is that those people who work in Oben pay tax to the Delta State Government.’

While agreeing with Ijeghede, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Samson Osagie, said many of Deltans came into Edo State as settlers but because the people of the state were fond of migrating to the city, the settlers claim ownership of those places and that led to lose of revenue for the state.

He, however, said that several meetings on the boundary issues have been held and adjustments made, noting that he expects the National Boundary Commission to visit the areas and ratify the boundaries to stop the revenue loss.

Osagie also said his ministry is proposing a revenue court Law that would create specific courts to try tax offenders.

‘There is the need for Revenue Court Law that will see to the setting up of a specific court to try offenders.

‘The whole idea is to ensure that the entire gamut of our tax system is put together in a way that enforcement and prosecution of tax offenders are easy.

‘As I speak, we are proposing a draft using our neighbouring Delta State as a model to have revenue courts law of Edo State so that all tax offenders will be sent to those courts and make trials fast and easy.’

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman of EIRS, Barr. Oladele Bankole-Balogun, said though, the EIRS was making progress in terms of revenue collection, there was the need for all the stakeholders to work together and increase the state’s revenue base.

He said that a fundamental tool for achieving this is the Single Treasury Account which the state have begun to institutionalise.

He noted that this would ensure a transparent flow of resources into a centralised account thus eliminating cash handling, reducing leakages, and, most importantly, improving accountability.

Bankole-Balogun added, ‘So going forward, we want to encourage that all revenue streams be remitted into the state IGR account with proper digital records and accountability.

‘Remember that revenue is not an end in itself. It’s just a means to enable the state to provide better roads, stronger health systems, vibrant education and safer communities.

He said the state was waiting for the commencement of the new national tax law which the state would key into.

Ahead of the February council polls in the Federal Capital Territory, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has pledged support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Dr. Moses Paul, stating that he would join him in campaigns across the FCT.

Obi gave the assurance on Wednesday at the Merit House in Abuja during a special Independence program organised by Dr. Paul to sensitise AMAC residents before the official campaign flag-off.

Speaking at the event, Obi said: ‘Dr. MO will not change, but because human beings can change, I will be shocked if he changes.’

In his remarks, Dr. Paul restated his pledge to restore dignity, prosperity, and service to governance if elected.

He said: ‘The bitter truth must be told: AMAC has failed. Our markets are trapped in endless litigations, waste management has collapsed, schools were abandoned for months, our health centres are non-functional, insecurity is widespread, businesses are burdened by multiple taxation, and infrastructure is largely absent. This is not governance. This is abandonment.’

He further promised that if elected Chairman, his administration would modernise AMAC markets into centres of economic activity, adding, ‘If AMAC works, Abuja works. If Abuja works, Nigeria works.’

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, announced the endorsement of Dr. Paul at the event, which was themed ‘We Don Tire.’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has joined labour unions in the oil and gas sector to caution the federal government against planned divestment from joint venture operations in the upstream sector and the sale of national equity stakes.

National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated the position of the opposition party on the sale of assets in the oil industry at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Tribune Online checks revealed that the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and its counterpart, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had last month expressed strong reservations about the Federal Government’s move to sell assets in oil industry and divest significant stakes in joint venture assets managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

They rejected the proposal to cut government stakes in JV assets by as much as 30-35 per cent, as against the Federal Government’s current equity stakes between 55 and 60 per cent of such assets through NNPCL.

Further checks revealed that the fear by the labour unions was on the heels of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s last August directive to his economic team for a reassessment of the NNPC’s 30 per cent management fee and 30 per cent frontier exploration deduction under the Petroleum Industry Act.

Tinubu, in charging the Economic Management Team led by Finance Minister Wale Edun, stressed the need to optimise government savings, streamline deductions from the Federation Account, and enhance fiscal discipline in a time of global financial strain.

Aligning with the labour unions’ fears over long-term economic security and fear that the sale of such equity in Nigerian joint venture operations with International Oil Companies (IOCs) to private individuals could impair Nigeria’s ability to meet obligations such as salaries and welfare packages, the ADC urged the present administration to perish the thought of divestment.

Abdullahi said, ‘On September 22, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) sent a joint letter to President Tinubu, unequivocally rejecting the proposed amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and the planned sale of NNPC Limited’s equity in high-performing joint ventures.

‘The African Democratic Congress (ADC) fully aligns itself with the position of the unions on both the proposed amendments and the sell-offs. We also believe that if allowed to proceed, the planned actions of this administration would not only undermine Nigeria’s energy sovereignty, but it would also amount to a brazen transfer of public assets into private hands in a manner never experienced in the history of our country.

‘We have carefully examined the proposed amendments to the PIA, and we are convinced that these actions formed part of a deliberate and calculated effort to hollow out NNPC Limited, dismantle institutional checks and balances, and pave the way for the fire-sale of Nigeria’s most valuable national assets to private, politically-connected interests at the expense of 200 million Nigerians. They represent not reform, but regression and they must be rejected.

‘There is also the grave issue of energy security. By handing over decisive control of these assets to private interests, the government weakens Nigeria’s ability to stabilise energy supply, respond to global oil shocks, or plan long-term energy strategies in the national interest.

‘If we sell off our oil assets, we are not just parting with numbers on a balance sheet; we are surrendering the lifeblood of our economy and the backbone of our national sovereignty. It would mean that Nigeria, a country that once stood as a giant of energy in Africa, would wake up tomorrow without control over its own resources.

‘It would mean that the revenues which fund our schools, hospitals, roads, and pensions will flow into private pockets while our treasury runs dry. It would mean NNPC Limited, stripped of its most profitable holdings, will stagger under debt and obligations it can no longer meet, risking collapse and the loss of thousands of jobs.

‘It would mean that our energy security, our ability to stabilise fuel supply, protect against global shocks, and plan for the future will be handed to a few private entities whose only loyalty is to profit, not to the Nigerian people. Most dangerously of all, it would set an irreversible precedent, turning our common wealth into private property, and leaving future generations of Nigerians with nothing but memories of what was once theirs.’

The ADC called on Nigerians not to show indifference to the proposed divestment of equity stakes in Joint Venture operations with the IOCs, but to collaborate with the labour unions to prevent the move, which it maintained would be inimical to the survival of the average Nigerian.

‘Fellow Nigerians, what lies before us is not merely a matter of policy or legislative adjustment; it is a battle for the very soul of our nation’s economy. At stake is the kind of Nigeria we are building, and more importantly, for whom we are building it.

‘We, therefore, call on all segments of our society to rise to this critical occasion. Civil society organisations must stand firm and resist this unfolding plunder of our national resources. The National Assembly, both current members and those who have served before, must reject any attempt to amend the Petroleum Industry Act in ways that serve private or political interests over the public good.

‘Labour unions, particularly those in the vital oil and gas sector, must act decisively to protect our national sovereignty and strategic assets. And to the young people of Nigeria – those who will bear the long-term consequences of today’s decisions, we urge you to organise, speak out, and demand full transparency and accountability.

‘At 65, Nigeria must not stand for power, profit, or politics. Nigeria must stand for the people.

‘The African Democratic Congress reaffirms its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s commonwealth, resisting corruption in all its forms, and defending the economic rights of future generations.

‘Let this be our legacy that when it mattered most, we stood up, spoke out, and said no to the selling of Nigeria,’ the ADC stated.

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, is having an inaugural meeting with the members of Olubadan-in-Council at the Olubadan palac,e Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.

The meeting is the first official outing of the Kabiyesi since his enthronement as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland last Friday

At the time of filing the report, the meeting is ongoing.