The senator representing Katsina Central in the National Assembly, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, has emerged as the new chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

Yar’Adua, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, was appointed as the forum’s new chair two days after the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, accused the upper chamber of padding the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.7 trillion.

Although the issue of budget padding is not new in Nigeria, it is however the first time a serving senator who actively participated in the passage of the budget will accuse the lawmakers of such an act.

On Tuesday, Ningi blamed his resignation on unfolding events in the National Assembly, the north, and the nation at large.

The forum also named Senator Tahir Mungono representing Borno North as its spokesperson to replace Senator Sumaila Kawu who was warned by the Senate to stop sharing posts capable of causing unrest in the country.

Sheila Courage, the estranged wife of Isreal ‘DMW’, an aide to popular Nigerian singer David ‘Davido’ Adeleke, appears to have embarked on a new romantic journey.

Taking to her Instagram stories, she shared a cryptic note, stating that she said yes again.

Her post read:

“I said yes!!! Again,” accompanied by an answered prayer emoji which hinted at her newfound happiness.

Furthermore, her announcement was reinforced by a congratulatory repost from one of her friends.

See the posts below:

The post sparked curiosity among Nigerians and prompted speculation about Sheila’s engagement barely months after falling out with Israel DMW.

Popular Nigerian film actor, Daniel Etim-Effiong and his wife Toyosi have welcomed their third child.

The couple took to Instagram to announce the birth of their daughter, while thanking God for His kindness.

They are also parents to an older daughter and a son.On the photo and video sharing platform, they wrote:

“She’s here ☺️ Our song! Our love-gift! Our evidence!! Another arrow in our quiver to the glory of GOD!!

Thank You LORD for your kindness towards us ❤️.”

Recall Nigerian film actor, Daniel Etim-Effiong and his wife, Toyosi announced they were expecting their third child together.

Actress Elvina Ibru has said she does not have an issue with people engaging in threesomes.

The 51-year-old said this in a podcast with media personality Joseph Edgar.

In a clip from the yet-to-be-released episode, Elvina who appears to be referring to someone else, said she thought the threesome was quite beautiful. She said in the one-minute clip:

“I didn’t have an issue with the threesome, in fact, I thought it was quite beautiful.”

Elvina Ibru is an ex-presenter with Classic FM, Lagos.

Her sister is singer Gloria Ibru.

The Bling Lagosians actress is the daughter of the late industrialist Michael Ibru.

Meanwhile, Nigerian actress cum politician, Laide Bakare came under fire for commenting under Portable’s 30th birthday post.

The actor who turned 30 on Tuesday, March 12, shared photos of himself in his attire, while wishing himself a happy birthday.

Laide Bakare despite their recent clash had taken to his comment section to make fun of him, rather than just wish him well like her colleagues.

This was before she set the record straight on her supposed relationship with a mystery man, who she has been parading on social media as her lover.

The actress repeatedly showed off photos and videos with the man, and at a point dropped a Lagos location for where her supposed marriage will take place, inviting her well wishers.

In a fresh post, Laide made a video debunking her earlier remarriage claim, stating that the actor is married and they simply got married only in movies.

Reality TV star Kiddwaya has taken to social media to celebrate his ex-girlfriend and fellow BBNaija alum Erica Nlewedim’s 30th birthday with a heartwarming post on Instagram.

The unexpected tribute from Kiddwaya, who had been romantically linked with Erica in the past, came as a surprise to many fans amidst their public breakup and subsequent engagements with other partners.

In a simple yet affectionate post, Kiddwaya curated a video showcasing a nostalgic moment shared between him and Erica Nlewedim.

Accompanying the endearing footage was Kiddwaya’s heartfelt birthday message addressed to Erica, where he fondly referred to her as “mango cheeks” and extended his warm wishes for her special day.

“Happy birthday mango cheeks @ericanlewedim,” Kiddwaya wrote.

The exchange between Erica and Kiddwaya reignited conversations among fans about the nature of their relationship and the significance of their bond.

The Federal Government has said that it plans to spend N178.9 billion on the implementation of the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo, made this known in the executive summary of the 63-page FMSDIGA strategic plan 2024-2028 presented on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the minister, the key priority areas of the strategic plan includes food security, ending poverty, economic growth/job creation, access to capital, inclusivity, security, fairness and rule of law and anti-corruption stance.

Jisalo said his ministry is among the three Federal Ministries saddled with the responsibility to contribute to the implementation of President Tinubu’s developmental policies and National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025.

The minister also pledged strict monitoring of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs’) projects, including constituencies’ projects across the country.

He said: “On our own part as a ministry and as part of our mandates, is to monitor, do evaluation and also certify the payment.

“You know some of the projects are not in our ministry, they are in other ministries, we will collaborate with them to know what the national assemblies are doing.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike maintains he is still a member of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite threats of expulsion from some chieftains of the party.

Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, fell out with the PDP hierarchy in the run-up to the 2023 presidential election. He had insisted the party maintain its internal power-sharing formula by zoning the presidential ticket to southern Nigeria. While he backed out from supporting Atiku Abubakar – from northern Nigeria – who won the PDP primary election, the former governor worked for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leading to the emergence of President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu later appointed him as a minister, a move that triggered debates on whether Wike is still a member of the PDP. Despite the calls for his expulsion, the FCT minister says he is still a member of the PDP, doubling down on his support for Tinubu – the APC flagbearer for the 2023 election.

“I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” he said during a Friday media parley with selected journalists in Abuja. “Have you ever seen me change anything?”

‘Everybody Should Carry Their Cross’

Even though Wike insists he is a member of the PDP, the FCT minister has been absent from major meetings of the party and has not been seen campaigning for them in the recent off-cycle elections, he does not regret his action.

“The one I supported before, what happened? I have decided to take a break. As you see me now, everybody should carry their cross,” Wike maintained.

“I was in PDP and I did not hide it: I told them I was not going to support their presidential candidate. Is it that I spoke or acted in a way people did not understand?”

He maintains he is an advocate of the rule of law, saying his non-support of the party in the 2023 presidential election was the right step and thus moves for his suspension are uncalled for.

“Discipline me for what? That I did what? I am an advocate of the party’s constitution. Assuming we lost the governorship, will they be talking about Rivers as a PDP state?”

Since the elections and politicking are over, Wike has only one thing in mind.

“Now is the time for governance. Now is the time to do your assignment. The president has given me an assignment and I am busy carrying out my assignment,” the former governor said. “When the time for politics comes, we would know who is where and who is not where.”

President Bola Tinubu has sent a new bill to the National Assembly regarding the student loan scheme.

Naija News reports that the development comes less than 48 hours after the federal government announced the indefinite suspension of the student loan scheme.

The new bill repeals the current Act and replaces it with a new one, aiming to facilitate a smoother scheme implementation.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu emphasized the necessity of this action to ensure the seamless execution of the scheme.

It is worth noting that the existing Act was among the first legislations signed by Tinubu after his inauguration.

The bill itself was sponsored by former speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who now serves as the Chief of Staff to the president.

Despite the government’s efforts, they have faced challenges in implementing the scheme, leading to multiple postponements of its launch.

A couple of days prior, a high-ranking official of the Tinubu government declared the permanent halt of the student loan program.

In his statement, Tinubu mentioned that the recent legislation aims to tackle issues concerning the organizational framework of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELF), qualifications for applicants, loan objectives, sources of funding, and distribution and repayment processes.

“TRANSMISSION OF STUDENT LOANS (ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION) (REPEAL AND RE-ENACTMENT) BILL, 2024

“Pursuant to Section 58(2) of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). I forward, herewith, The Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024 for the kind consideration of the House of Representatives.

“The Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re- Enactment) Bill, 2024 seeks to enhance the implementation of the Higher Education Student Loan Scheme by addressing challenges related to the management structure of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELF), applicant eligibility requirements, loan purpose, funding sources and disbursement and repayment procedures.

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“Whilst hoping that this submission will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the House of Representatives, please accept, Rt. Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

The military has vowed to rescue the over 200 schoolchildren who were recently abducted by bandits in Kaduna State.

While addressing a press conference in Abuja on the activities of the Armed Forces in the last two weeks, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, says the military is committed to rescuing all kidnapped victims unhurt.

The defence spokesman during the Thursday event, however, blamed school owners for failing to report cases of abduction to security agencies on time.

He also blamed the recent kidnapping of some internally displaced persons in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno State on their disobedience to instructions as they left the camp in search of firewood without informing camp officials.

The abduction of 287 students in Kaduna State has triggered a flurry of comments from authorities in Nigeria.

In the wake of the abduction, President Bola Tinubu mandated security agencies to fish out the kidnappers and rescue the students, insisting his government would not pay ransom.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation Muhammad Idris said this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

He told State House Correspondents that President Tinubu also reiterated his directive to the defence to ensure that the children are rescued and brought back safely to their homes.

The minister reiterated that under the current government, kidnapping, especially mass abduction will not be tolerated.

The Katsina State Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday handed over six trucks and their contents to the owners as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

The released trucks were mostly intercepted along the Kongolam Border Patrol Checkpoint in Mai-Adua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The presidential directive aimed to ensure food security and alleviate the hardship faced by most citizens of the country.

The Katsina State Customs Area Comptroller Muhammad Umar while releasing the trucks loaded with assorted grains that were hitherto under the custody of the Nigerian Customs Service recalled that the Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had during his official work visit to Katsina, passed across the presidential directive which mandated the return of the detained food items to the owners on the condition that they would be sold within the Nigerian market.

He announced that the released trucks will be closely monitored by the Katsina Customs Area Command in collaboration with the Customs Intelligence Unit, Federal Operation Unit, and the Joint Border Patrol Team, to ensure that they are not smuggled out of the country again.

He added that the service is committed to fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration with the border communities to ensure prosperity and security in the whole thing.

He, therefore, pleaded with the general public to provide information that would assist in curtailing the smuggling of foodstuff out of the country.

In his remarks during the brief ceremony, the Chairman of the State Taskforce Committee on Food Security and Promotion, Jabiru Abdullahi Tsauri, warned smugglers and owners of the released trucks to adhere strictly to the presidential directive by selling these assorted grains to Nigerians particularly citizens of Katsina State.

“We have already instructed the Local Government Chairmen to form a Committee to monitor strictly in conjunction with the task force, the sales of these Grains,” Tsauri added.