A lot of newsworthy events shaped June 25 to July 1. Here is a list of some selected top national stories across Nigeria.
Mob kills butcher over alleged blasphemy in Sokoto
The Sokoto State Police Command on Sunday confirmed the murder of a butcher, Usman Buda over alleged blasphemy.
According to ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, the command’s Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the killing in a statement on Sunday, a distress call was received at 9:20 a.m. that the victim, Usman Buda of Gwandu Local Government Area, a butcher at Sokoto Abattoir, had allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet and was about to be lynched by a mob.
193 drug abusers nabbed in Bayelsa
On Sunday, the Bayelsa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency disclosed that it arrested 193 drug users in the state.
The arrests were made between July 2022 and June this year, according to the state Commander of the NDLEA, Matthew Ewah, who stated this at a press briefing on Saturday as part of the command’s activities to mark the 2023 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Yenagoa.
Customers to pay more as DisCos effect new electricity tariff July
Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have announced plans to implement a new tariff which implies that customers will begin paying more on July 1st.
According to the Discos, this is due to fluctuating exchange rates.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said in a statement on Sunday that under the MYTO 2022 guidelines, the previously set exchange rate of N441/$1 may now be revised to around N750/$1, affecting electricity consumption tariffs.
Four injured in Lagos gas explosion
On Tuesday, six tankers, five trucks and two cars were reportedly destroyed in a tanker explosion at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Ogun, Mr Ahmed Umar, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that it occurred at about 6.20 a.m.
Tinubu renames airports after Buhari, Awolowo, others
On Monday, President Bola Tinubu immortalised some late eminent Nigerians, like Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chuba Okadigbo, by naming airports after them.
Some federal airports are also renamed after several living prominent Nigerians, like Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Why Buhari didn’t remove fuel subsidy – Garba Shehu
Shehu claimed that only a new administration with goodwill that fills a warehouse could attempt to remove fuel subsidy, insisting that only President Bola Tinubu enjoys such.
Abuja FBI impostor defrauds Spaniard of €5.7m
On Monday, a Federal Bureau of Investigation impostor, Ifechukwu Makwe was arrested for allegedly defrauding a Spaniard of €5.7m.
The impostor, Makwe was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Head of Media and Publicity at the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, made this known in a statement.
FG introduces proof of ownership fee for vehicles
On Tuesday, the Federal Government commenced issuing of Proof of Ownership Certificates (POC) for all types of registered automobiles in the country.
The certificate would be one of the requirements to be renewed yearly, according to Engr AbdulHafiz Toriola, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, who announced the new policy at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Lagos.
Fire razes down NLC President, Ajaero’s home in Lagos
On Tuesday, the Lagos residence of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero was razed by fire.
The entire building was said to have been burnt down after a strange noise was heard from the roof, which was mistaken for foraging domestic animals.
The inferno exploded in a ball of fire as members scampered to safety with nothing salvaged from the building.
CBN Limits Contactless Payment To N50,000 Daily
On Wednesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released new guidelines for contactless payments in the country, limiting the daily cumulative transaction limit via the channel to N50,000 and single transactions limit to N15,000.
This was contained in a circular signed by the CBN director Payments and Systems management Department, Musa Jimoh, to all banks, financial institutions and payment service providers issued yesterday.
FG to halt funding of professional bodies, councils in 2026
On Wednesday, the Federal Government has announced that the provision of budgetary allocations to professional bodies and councils will cease from December 31, 2026.
The announcement is contained in a letter from the budget office on Wednesday.
The letter was addressed to the Registrar, Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Gov Adeleke escapes mob action as violence erupts at Osogbo Eid prayer ground
On Wednesday, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State was nearly lynched by rampaging hoodlums at the Osogbo Eid praying ground.
There was a full blown melee after a group of hoodlums, allegedly led by some prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took over the section reserved for the governor.
2023 polls: Naira redesign policy orchestrated to truncate my victory – Tinubu
On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu disclosed that he won the presidential election despite overwhelming odds against him and the massive obstacles in his paths in the build up to the polls.
The President made this known at the palace of the Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in Ijebu-Ode, during what he called a thank-you visit to the monarch.
Tinubu, who was in Ogun State on a private visit, also visited the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo,at his palace in Abeokuta.
UK begins recruitment, targets 300,000 doctors, nurses
On Friday, the National Health Service in England would get more than 300,000 staff under a new plan announced by the government to deal with a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses.
The publicly-funded NHS, which marks its 75th birthday on Wednesday, is facing an estimated workforce shortfall of 360,000 by 2037 due to an ageing population, a lack of domestically trained health workers and difficulties retaining existing staff.
Peter Obi deletes tweet addressing Tinubu as Mr President
On Friday, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi deleted a tweet wherein he addressed Bola Tinubu as Mr President.
Obi is challenging the declaration of Tinubu the candidate of the All Progressive Congress as the winner of the February 25th election.
Obi had said politicians asking the citizens to make sacrifices must be at the forefront of doing so as they must be willing to let go of some of the pecks and trappings that come with the position they occupy.