Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to slash extravagant budget allocations for the presidency and National Assembly. Chronicle NG reports that the budget was presented on Wednesday, and the Senate passed the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ Budget for a second reading on Thursday after various deliberations. SERAP’s letter from December 21, 2024, released on Sunday, highlights N9.4 billion for the presidency’s travel, meals, and catering, as well as N344.85 billion for lawmakers in the 2025 budget. SERAP argues that these figures are unnecessary and could…

The Nigeria Police Force has refuted allegations made by Amnesty International in its report on the #EndBadGovernance protests, labelling them as untrue, deceptive, and detrimental to the force’s image.  The report, dated November 28, 2024, accused police of extrajudicial killings during the protests, saying that at least 24 individuals were slain throughout six northern states. The police have denied the report, titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests,” claiming that their results contradict Amnesty International’s charges. At a news event on Sunday, Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi stated that a special investigative team had been formed to verify…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has voiced worry about the unorganised distribution of palliatives and humanitarian supplies across Nigeria during the festive season. In recent days, a number of regrettable instances have underlined the need for a more structured and secure approach to aid distribution. On December 18, 2024, a stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, killed 35 children and gravely injured many others. Another horrific tragedy occurred on December 21, 2024, when ten people died in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, where food was being provided to the elderly…

A fire outbreak involving a petrol tanker razed a fuel station in Itam, near the Uyo metropolis of Akwa Ibom State, in the early hours of Saturday. ASP Timfon John, the Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Police Command, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said there was no casualty and that an investigation to unravel the cause of the incident has commenced. “We received information about a fire outbreak in Itam, and officers were immediately dispatched. There was no casualty, and the investigation is still ongoing.” ASP John said It was gathered that the fuel station caught fire…

Aston Villa defeated crisis-hit Man City 2-1 on Saturday, heaping more misery on struggling manager Pep Guardiola, who has now lost nine of his last 12 games.  Jhon Duran completed a beautiful team play to give the home side an early lead, and Morgan Rogers extended Villa’s lead in the 65th minute. Phil Foden scored his first Premier League goal of the season in stoppage time, but it came too late. Pep Guardiola, who is having the worst season of his sparkling career, insisted on Friday that “sooner or later” things would improve, but Man City’s fear factor has evaporated.…

The candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election, Peter Obi, has described as “tragic” the loss of lives at the palliative distribution centre in Abuja and Anambra state on Saturday. Obi, in a statement on his verified X handle on Twitter, lamented over the widespread hunger and hardship in the country, which he attributes to being the cause of people rushing to collect palliatives, leading to the loss of lives. Obi’s statement comes after Chronicle NG reported that no fewer than 10 people, including children, were killed at a palliative distribution centre in Abuja on Saturday. Chronicle…

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has verified that ten people, including four children, died in a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday during a food distribution.  According to Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh, the incident occurred about 6:30 a.m., when a crowd of over 1,000 people gathered to accept food items intended for the weak and old. Adeh said that the police had effectively evacuated the location and restored calm. The statement partly reads, “This unfortunate event, which took place around 6:30 am, resulted in a stampede that claimed the lives of…

A stampede at the gate of the Obijackson Centre in Okija, in Anambra State’s Ihiala Local Government Area, on Saturday left an undetermined number of people dead and injured.  The stampede occurred during the distribution of palliatives, which included rice, vegetable oil, and money. According to reports, the majority of the dead were women and children gathered at the gate, attempting to get entry amidst a massive and unmanageable mob. Chief Ernest Obiejesi (Obijackson), a community member, gave the palliatives. Eyewitnesses at the event reported that many people fainted and were brought to the hospital, including a badly injured woman.…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reduced its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly referred to as petrol, from N1,020 to N899 per litre. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria confirmed on Saturday that the Dangote Refinery’s price reduction to N899 was based on a regional pricing scheme. The statement was signed by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, and cited a document from NNPCL’s Commercial Department. The price indicates that marketers will buy the product. Marketers buying from Warri, Oghara, Port Harcourt, and Calabar will, however, pay N970 per litre…

Renowned journalist and AriseTV anchor, Oseni Rufai, has penned a glowing tribute to human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi. Oseni, in a piece titled ‘Dele Farotimi, a beacon of light,’ eulogised the embattled activist in a poem that has generated applause from social media users. The poem comes amid the ongoing trial of the lawyer over alleged defamation of Aare Afe Babalola (SAN). Chronicle NG reported that the seasoned human rights activist was incarcerated by the police for allegedly defaming Afe Babalola in his recently published book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.’ However, after spending weeks in police…