General

Governor, Others for 2019 ‘Iyara Day’ October 19

Published

6 years ago

12/09/2019

Plans have been concluded by a group known as the Iyara Development Movement (IDM) for the celebration of another Iyara Day on Saturday, October 19, 2019.

According to a statement issued by the organization, the event is scheduled to hold at Iyara Town Hall Premises, Iyara, Kogi State by 10 am.

In the statement dated September 5, 2019 and jointly signed by the President of IDM, Professor Mike Ikupolati, and its Director General, Mr Funso Fayomi, it was revealed that the 2019 Iyara Day celebration is the 26th in the series and will feature cultural activities by various groups to make the event memorable.

The theme of the celebration, according to the statement, which was made available to journalists, is Operation Quench Thirst in Iyara Water Project and the event would be marked with fanfare such as cultural dances, displays, and celebrations.

The water project is estimated to cost N100 million.

It will be recalled that the fund raising for the ambitious project started during the 25th Anniversary of Iyara Day in September last year.

Expected at the event, which had been endorsed in the past by former president Ibrahim Babangida and Mrs Kemi Nelson, are the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, who is the Special Guest, while the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mrs Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, is the Special Guest of Honour.

Others that will add colour to the ceremony are the Board Chairman of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and a top management consultant, Mr Dotun Sulaiman, who will serve as the Chairman of the event and the Chairman of Nigerian Insurance Association, who is also the Vice President of the African Insurance Organization and Managing Director of NEM Insurance PLC, Mr Tope Smart, who is the Chief Launcher.

Ikupolati and Fayomi revealed in the statement that the water project was meant to provide potable water for the people of the community and put an end to years of suffering of the residents due to unavailability of potable water in the community.

“This year’s Iyara Day has been planned to be the best in recent times.

“We are happy that we are all alive to celebrate this special day and we look forward to seeing our people trooping to the town and joining us in this celebration and fund-raising ceremony.

“We use this opportunity to invite all Okun sons and daughters to this special event and we assure them that they will be glad to be part of this year’s event that promises to be full of actions, colour and tradition,” they said in the statement.

It will be recalled that in 1993, a group of young persons identified the advantages of community day celebration they witnessed in their respective areas of domicile and were motivated to replicate same in Iyara, headquarters of Ijumu LGA, Kogi State.

The celebration was the first of its kind in Okunland and it has become an avenue to unite the people of the community.

Ikupolati and Fayomi revealed in the statement that the laudable idea of Iyara Day is the flagship of such celebrations in Okunland and that it has become a reference point, which others have since emulated.

The duo emphasized in the statement that Iyara Day has become an avenue to unite the people of the community and that it is getting better by the day.

They recalled that the jubilee celebration of Iyara Day, which they said held in September 2018, is still being talked about by the people of the community and others, adding that this year’s celebration would be far better.

“Iyara Community will always be grateful to God for what He has done for us and we will continue to showcase those things that unite us as a people.

“We are committed to the development of Iyara Town and its people and we are proud of the dreams of the founding fathers of Iyara Community and Iyara Development Movement (IDM) will continue to do its best to move the community and it’s people forward.

“2019 Iyara Day will surely mark a turnaround for the community and it will also be an avenue to socialise and make better plans for the development of the community and its people.

“May you be honoured and celebrated as you be a part of this event and we are sure that your efforts will not be in vain as you support our humble efforts of uplifting our common heritage,” the statement read.

General

US Strikes Terrorists in Sokoto on Trump’s Directive (VIDEO)

Published

9 hours ago

26/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.

On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.

According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.

“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.

“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;

https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272

General

Gbajabiamila Remains President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff—Presidency

Published

19 hours ago

25/12/2025

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.

Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.

In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”

“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.

“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.

“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.

General

Eyesan Promises Bold Reset in Nigeria’s Upstream Sector as New NUPRC Head

Published

1 day ago

25/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The new chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has assumed office with a clear message to advance the country’s upstream oil and gas sector in line with the mandate of the commission as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

According to a statement signed by Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, the Head of Media & Strategic Communications at the upstream regulator, the NUPRC boss made this assertation during her first town hall meeting with management and staff on Tuesday December 23, 2025.

She further disclosed plans to make the commission a business enabler and re-ignite investments in the upstream sector.

Recall that President Tinubu nominated Mrs Eyesan to take over the NUPRC after the abrupt resignation of her predecessor, Mr Gbenga Komolafe as well as his counterpart in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed.

In her new capacity, Mrs Eyesan also set a firm production ambition of growing Nigeria’s output and increasing gas production.

“The goal is that we must enable the industry, we are regulators. We must enable the industry from our interactions with the stakeholders, from our interactions with everybody.

“My main objective is to ensure that we make a difference. I believe the NUPRC is at the Center of the industry,” she said.

The commission boss who has served for over three decades in the oil and gas sector, promised to entrench digitisation, transparency and efficiency in operations.

The NUPRC head said with the support of staff and management, the NUPRC will become the gold-standard regulator in Africa. She also promised capacity development, stronger technical depth and sustained engagement with stakeholders, unions and professional teams.

On leadership style, Mrs Eyesan promised an open-door policy and frequent staff engagement, while also soliciting for support and cooperation as the industry embarks on the next phase of transformation.

“If we work together we can unleash opportunities, I don’t see impediments only opportunities,” she added.